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SEC Petition Evaluation Report 

Petition SEC-00136, Rev. 1 

Report Rev #: 1 Report Submittal Date: 01/31/2012 

Subject Expert(s): S. E. Glover

Site Expert(s): N/A

Petition Administrative Summary

Petition Under Evaluation

Petition # Petition 

Type

Petition

Receipt Date

Qualification 

Date

DOE/AWE Facility Name

SEC-00136 83.13 December 5, 2008 March 12, 2009 Electro Metallurgical

Petitioner-Requested Class Definition 

All workers who worked in any area at the Electro Metallurgical Corporation facility, for the period from August 

13, 1942 through December 31, 1953.

Class Evaluated by NIOSH

All workers who worked in any area at the Electro Metallurgical Corporation for the period from August 13, 1942 

through June 30, 1953.

NIOSH-Proposed Class(es) to be Added to the SEC

All employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors 

who worked at the Electro Metallurgical site in Niagara Falls, New York, for the period from August 13, 1942 

through December 31, 1947, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days, occurring either 

solely under this employment, or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or 

more other classes of employees in the Special Exposure Cohort.

Related Petition Summary Information 

SEC Petition Tracking #(s) Petition Type DOE/AWE Facility Name Petition Status

SEC-00132 83.13 Electro Metallurgical Corporation Merged into

SEC-00136

Related Evaluation Report Information 

Report Title DOE/AWE Facility Name

SEC Petition Evaluation Report for Petition SEC-00136, Rev 0 Electro

Metallurgical

Evaluation Completed By: [Signature on File] 2/7/2012

S. E. Glover Date

[Signature on File] 2/7/2012 SEC Petition Evaluation Reviewed By:

J. W. Neton Date

[Signature on File] 2/7/2012 SEC Evaluation Approved By:

 Stuart L. Hinnefeld Date
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Evaluation Report Summary: SEC-00136, Rev. 1 

Electro Metallurgical 

This evaluation report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 

addresses a class of employees proposed for addition to the Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) per the 

Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000, as amended, 42 U.S.C.

§ 7384 et seq. (EEOICPA) and 42 C.F.R. pt. 83, Procedures for Designating Classes of Employees as 

Members of the Special Exposure Cohort under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness 

Compensation Program Act of 2000.

Petitioner-Requested Class Definition 

Petition SEC-00136 was received on December 5, 2008, and qualified on March 12, 2009. The 

petitioner requested that NIOSH consider the following class: All workers who worked in any area at 

the Electro Metallurgical Corporation facility, for the period from August 13, 1942 through 

December 31, 1953. 

Class Evaluated by NIOSH 

Based on its preliminary research, NIOSH reduced the petitioner-requested class. NIOSH evaluated 

the following class: All workers who worked in any area at the Electro Metallurgical Corporation for 

the period from August 13, 1942 through June 30, 1953. 

NIOSH-Proposed Class(es) to be Added to the SEC 

Based on its full research of the class under evaluation, NIOSH has defined a single class of 

employees for which NIOSH cannot estimate radiation doses with sufficient accuracy. The NIOSHproposed class includes: All employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, and 

their contractors and subcontractors who worked at the Electro Metallurgical site in Niagara Falls, 

New York, for the period from August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947, for a number of work 

days aggregating at least 250 work days, occurring either solely under this employment, or in 

combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of 

employees in the Special Exposure Cohort. The end date of the class under evaluation was reduced 

(see Section 3.0 below) because the contract with the Atomic Energy Commission expired on June 30, 

1953, ending its involvement with the site. The period from January 1, 1948 through June 30, 1953 is 

not included in the proposed SEC class because NIOSH has determined dose reconstruction to be 

feasible for that period. 

Feasibility of Dose Reconstruction 

NIOSH finds it is not feasible to estimate internal exposures with sufficient accuracy for all workers at 

the site from August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947. Internal monitoring data, work area 

radiological monitoring data, and source term data are not sufficient to provide a sufficiently accurate 

estimate of the bounding internal dose during this early period at Electro Metallurgical. With the 

exception of this class, per EEOICPA and 42 C.F.R. § 83.13(c)(1), NIOSH has established that it has 

access to sufficient information to: (1) estimate the maximum radiation dose, for every type of cancer 
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for which radiation doses are reconstructed, that could have been incurred in plausible circumstances 

by any member of the class; or (2) estimate radiation doses more precisely than an estimate of 

maximum dose. Information available from the site profile and additional resources is sufficient to 

document or estimate the maximum internal and external potential exposure to members of the 

evaluated class under plausible circumstances during the specified period from January 1, 1948 

through June 30, 1953.

The NIOSH dose reconstruction feasibility findings are based on the following: 

Principal sources of internal radiation for members of the proposed class included exposures to 

uranium and its short-lived progeny present in uranium metal fabrication and scrap recovery 

operations. The modes of exposure were inhalation and ingestion of dust generated during the 

various processes. 

NIOSH has determined that neither the bioassay nor the early limited air sampling data are 

sufficient to bound the dose at Electro Metallurgical for the August 13, 1942 through December 

31, 1947 portion of the period under evaluation. Based on health improvements described as 

occurring in late 1947, the internal dose related data collected after 1947 cannot be extrapolated to 

exposures occurring prior to 1948 at Electro Metallurgical. 

Principal sources of external radiation for members of the proposed class included exposures to 

uranium derived from naturally-occurring ores exhibiting a natural isotopic abundance. NIOSH 

finds that it is likely feasible to reconstruct occupational external dose for Electro Metallurgical 

with sufficient accuracy. 

NIOSH finds that it is likely feasible to reconstruct occupational medical dose for Electro 

Metallurgical workers with sufficient accuracy. 

Pursuant to 42 C.F.R. § 83.13(c)(1), NIOSH determined that there is insufficient information to 

either: (1) estimate the maximum radiation dose, for every type of cancer for which radiation 

doses are reconstructed, that could have been incurred under plausible circumstances by any 

member of the class; or (2) estimate the radiation doses of members of the class more precisely 

than a maximum dose estimate. 

Although NIOSH found that it is not possible to completely reconstruct radiation doses for the 

proposed class, NIOSH intends to use any internal and external monitoring data that may become 

available for an individual claim (and that can be interpreted using existing NIOSH dose 

reconstruction processes or procedures). Therefore, dose reconstructions for individuals employed 

at Electro Metallurgical during the period from August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947, but 

who do not qualify for inclusion in the SEC, may be performed using these data as appropriate. 
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Health Endangerment Determination 

Per EEOICPA and 42 C.F.R. § 83.13(c)(3), a health endangerment determination is required because 

NIOSH has determined that it does not have sufficient information to estimate dose for the members 

of the proposed class from August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947. 

NIOSH did not identify any evidence supplied by the petitioners or from other resources that would 

establish that the proposed class was exposed to radiation during a discrete incident likely to have 

involved exceptionally high-level exposures. However, evidence indicates that some workers in the 

proposed class may have accumulated substantial chronic exposures through episodic intakes of 

uranium and from direct exposure to this material. Consequently, NIOSH has determined that health 

was endangered for those workers covered by this evaluation who were employed for at least 250 

aggregated work days either solely under their employment or in combination with work days within 

the parameters established for other SEC classes. 

For the period from January 1, 1948 through June 30, 1953, a health endangerment determination is 

not required because NIOSH has determined that it has sufficient information to estimate dose for the 

members of the evaluated class. 
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Table of Contents 

1.0 Purpose and Scope .......................................................................................................................... 9

2.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 9

3.0 SEC-00136, Electro Metallurgical Class Definitions ................................................................... 10

3.1 Petitioner-Requested Class Definition and Basis ................................................................ 11

3.2 Class Evaluated by NIOSH ................................................................................................. 12

3.3 NIOSH-Proposed Class(es) to be Added to the SEC .......................................................... 12

4.0 Data Sources Reviewed by NIOSH to Evaluate the Class ........................................................... 13

4.1 Site Profile Technical Basis Documents (TBDs) ................................................................ 13

4.2 ORAU Technical Information Bulletins (OTIBs) and Procedures ..................................... 14

4.3 Facility Employees and Experts .......................................................................................... 14

4.4 Previous Dose Reconstructions ........................................................................................... 15

4.5 NIOSH Site Research Database .......................................................................................... 15

4.6 Documentation and/or Affidavits Provided by Petitioners ................................................. 16

5.0 Radiological Operations Relevant to the Class Evaluated by NIOSH ......................................... 17

5.1 Electro Metallurgical Plant and Process Descriptions ......................................................... 17

5.2 Radiological Exposure Sources from Electro Met Operations ............................................ 21

5.2.1 Internal Radiological Exposure Sources from Electro Met Operations .................. 21

5.2.2 External Radiological Exposure Sources from Electro Met Operations ................. 22

5.2.2.1 Photon ....................................................................................................... 22

5.2.2.2 Beta ........................................................................................................... 22

5.2.2.3 Neutron ..................................................................................................... 22

5.2.3 Incidents .................................................................................................................. 23

6.0 Summary of Available Monitoring Data for the Class Evaluated by NIOSH ............................. 23

6.1 Available Electro Metallurgical Internal Monitoring Data ................................................. 23

6.2 Available Electro Metallurgical External Monitoring Data ................................................ 27

7.0 Feasibility of Dose Reconstruction for the Class Evaluated by NIOSH ...................................... 27

7.1 Pedigree of Electro Metallurgical Data ............................................................................... 28

7.1.1 Internal Monitoring Data Pedigree Review ............................................................. 28

7.1.1.1 Urinalysis Data ......................................................................................... 28

7.1.1.2 Air Sample Data ....................................................................................... 29

7.1.1.3 Surface Contamination Data ..................................................................... 29

7.1.2 External Monitoring Data Pedigree Review ............................................................ 30

7.2 Evaluation of Bounding Internal Radiation Doses at Electro Met ...................................... 30

7.2.1 Evaluation of Bounding Process-Related Internal Doses ........................................ 30

7.2.1.1 Urinalysis Information and Available Data .............................................. 30

7.2.1.2 Airborne Levels ........................................................................................ 30

7.2.2 Evaluation of Bounding Ambient Environmental Internal Doses ........................... 31
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7.2.3 Methods for Bounding Internal Dose at Electro Metallurgical ............................... 31

7.2.3.1 Methods for Bounding Operational Period Internal Dose ........................ 31

7.2.4 Internal Dose Reconstruction Feasibility Conclusion ............................................. 31

7.3 Evaluation of Bounding External Radiation Doses at ElectroMet ...................................... 32

7.3.1 Evaluation of Bounding Process-Related External Doses ....................................... 32

7.3.2 Evaluation of Bounding Ambient Environmental External Doses .......................... 32

7.3.3 Electro Met Occupational X-Ray Examinations ..................................................... 33

7.3.4 Methods for Bounding External Dose at Electro Met ............................................. 33

7.3.4.1 Methods for Bounding Operational Period External Dose ....................... 33

7.3.5 External Dose Reconstruction Feasibility Conclusion ............................................ 34

7.4 Evaluation of Petition Basis for SEC-00136 ....................................................................... 34

7.4.1 Dosimeters/Monitoring ............................................................................................ 34

7.4.2 Blowout Events ....................................................................................................... 35

7.5 Other Potential SEC Issues Relevant to the Petition Identified During the Evaluation ...... 36

7.6 Summary of Feasibility Findings for Petition SEC-00136 .................................................. 38

8.0 Evaluation of Health Endangerment for Petition SEC-00136 ...................................................... 39

9.0 Class Conclusion for Petition SEC-00136 ................................................................................... 39

10.0 References .................................................................................................................................... 41

Attachment 1: Data Capture Synopsis ................................................................................................... 47

Figure 

6-1: Air samples Collected at Electro Met and Their Relation to Operational Periods ....................... 26

Tables 

4-1: No. of Electro Met Claims Submitted Under the Dose Reconstruction Rule ................................ 15

5-1: Electro Metallurgical Corporation Operational Periods ................................................................ 19

5-2: The Uranium Tetrafluoride-to-Metal Reduction Process .............................................................. 19

6-1: Available Data to Support a Bounding Internal Dose Estimate .................................................... 25

7-1: Summary of Feasibility Findings for SEC-00136 .......................................................................... 38
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SEC Petition Evaluation Report for SEC-00136, Rev. 1 

ATTRIBUTION AND ANNOTATION: This is a single-author document. All conclusions drawn from 

the data presented in this evaluation were made by the Lead Technical Evaluator: S. E. Glover, 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The rationales for all conclusions in this 

document are explained in the associated text.

1.0 Purpose and Scope 

This report evaluates the feasibility of reconstructing doses for all workers who worked in any area at 

the Electro Metallurgical (also known as Electro Met) for the period from August 13, 1942 through 

June 30, 1953. It provides information and analyses germane to considering a petition for adding a 

class of employees to the congressionally-created SEC. 

This report does not make any determinations concerning the feasibility of dose reconstruction that 

necessarily apply to any individual energy employee who might require a dose reconstruction from 

NIOSH. This report also does not contain the final determination as to whether the proposed class 

will be added to the SEC (see Section 2.0). 

This evaluation was conducted in accordance with the requirements of EEOICPA, 42 C.F.R. pt. 83,

and the guidance contained in the Division of Compensation Analysis and Support’s (DCAS) Internal 

Procedures for the Evaluation of Special Exposure Cohort Petitions, DCAS-PR-004.1

2.0 Introduction 

Both EEOICPA and 42 C.F.R. pt. 83 require NIOSH to evaluate qualified petitions requesting that the 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) add a class of employees to the SEC. The 

evaluation is intended to provide a fair, science-based determination of whether it is feasible to 

estimate with sufficient accuracy the radiation doses of the class of employees through NIOSH dose 

reconstructions.2

 

42 C.F.R. § 83.13(c)(1) states: Radiation doses can be estimated with sufficient accuracy if NIOSH 

has established that it has access to sufficient information to estimate the maximum radiation dose, 

for every type of cancer for which radiation doses are reconstructed, that could have been incurred in 

plausible circumstances by any member of the class, or if NIOSH has established that it has access to 

sufficient information to estimate the radiation doses of members of the class more precisely than an 

estimate of the maximum radiation dose.

Under 42 C.F.R. § 83.13(c)(3), if it is not feasible to estimate with sufficient accuracy radiation doses 

for members of the class, then NIOSH must determine that there is a reasonable likelihood that such 

radiation doses may have endangered the health of members of the class. The regulation requires 

 

1

 DCAS was formerly known as the Office of Compensation Analysis and Support (OCAS). 

2

 NIOSH dose reconstructions under EEOICPA are performed using the methods promulgated under 42 C.F.R. pt. 82 and 

the detailed implementation guidelines available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas. 
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NIOSH to assume that any duration of unprotected exposure may have endangered the health of 

members of a class when it has been established that the class may have been exposed to radiation 

during a discrete incident likely to have involved levels of exposure similarly high to those occurring 

during nuclear criticality incidents. If the occurrence of such an exceptionally high-level exposure has 

not been established, then NIOSH is required to specify that health was endangered for those workers 

who were employed for at least 250 aggregated work days within the parameters established for the 

class or in combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other SEC 

classes. 

NIOSH is required to document its evaluation in a report, and to do so, relies upon both its own dose 

reconstruction expertise as well as technical support from its contractor, Oak Ridge Associated 

Universities (ORAU). Once completed, NIOSH provides the report to both the petitioner(s) and the 

Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (Board). The Board will consider the NIOSH 

evaluation report, together with the petition, petitioner(s) comments, and other information the Board 

considers appropriate, in order to make recommendations to the Secretary of HHS on whether or not 

to add one or more classes of employees to the SEC. Once NIOSH has received and considered the 

advice of the Board, the Director of NIOSH will propose a decision on behalf of HHS. The Secretary 

of HHS will make the final decision, taking into account the NIOSH evaluation, the advice of the 

Board, and the proposed decision issued by NIOSH. As part of this decision process, petitioners may 

seek a review of certain types of final decisions issued by the Secretary of HHS.3

3.0 SEC-00136, Electro Metallurgical Class Definitions 

The following subsections address the evolution of the class definition for SEC-00136, Electro 

Metallurgical. When a petition is submitted, the requested class definition is reviewed as submitted. 

Based on its review of the available site information and data, NIOSH will make a determination 

whether to qualify for full evaluation all, some, or no part of the petitioner-requested class. If some 

portion of the petitioner-requested class is qualified, NIOSH will specify that class along with a 

justification for any modification of the petitioner’s class. After a full evaluation of the qualified 

class, NIOSH will determine whether to propose a class for addition to the SEC and will specify that 

proposed class definition. 

A separate petition for Electro Metallurgical Corporation, SEC-00132, was also submitted. On 

review, NIOSH found that the proposed class for SEC-00132 was encompassed by that of 

SEC-00136; NIOSH then merged the two petitions. 

 

3

 See 42 C.F.R. pt. 83 for a full description of the procedures summarized here. Additional internal procedures are 

available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas. 
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3.1 Petitioner-Requested Class Definition and Basis 

Petition SEC-00136 was received on December 5, 2008, and qualified on March 12, 2009. The 

petitioner requested that NIOSH consider the following class: All workers who worked in any area at 

the Electro Metallurgical Corporation facility, for the period from August 13, 1942 through December 

31, 1953.

The petitioner provided information and affidavit statements in support of the petitioner’s belief that 

accurate dose reconstruction over time is impossible for the Electro Met workers in question. NIOSH 

deemed the following information and affidavit statements sufficient to qualify SEC-00136 for 

evaluation: 

In support of his claim, the SEC-00136 petitioner claimed that radiation exposures and radiation 

doses potentially incurred by members of the proposed class were not monitored, either through 

personal monitoring or through area monitoring. 

The petitioner provided a typed statement (non-affidavit) stating that: 

Records within the files of the Department of Labor, and the Department of Energy 

demonstrate that at the Electro Met radiation doses were either not monitored or there was 

very little monitoring done. There is also evidence that the U.S. government deliberately 

misled workers about the health and safety issues [sic] by concealing the facts of very poor 

working conditions from them and by failing to undertake the needed level of radiation 

dose surveillance including frequent and widespread urine sampling that was warranted.

The petitioner provided a hand-written statement (non-affidavit) in the Form B petition 

stating that: 

Uranium production (metal) was occurring [sic] in the late 1940s at Electro Met. Only 

limited data on the range of air concentrations found in working areas, as well as air 

concentrations weighted over the working day are available in the detail needed to make 

even an approximate dose calculation. See USA article attached. 

In support of this basis, the petitioner also provided a report appearing in the August 16, 

2000 edition of USA Today, which evaluated potential internal radiation dose from inhaled 

uranium at three AWEs, including Electro Metallurgical Corporation. 

The petitioner for SEC-00132 (which has been merged with SEC-00136), provided a 

statement by affidavit stating: 

I, [name of petitioner], wife of [Electro Metallurgical Corporation Employee], know for 

sure that my husband never wore a dosimetry badge at any time in his career with Union 

Carbide. 
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The petitioner’s affidavit further states: 

I also know that my husband was never told his life may be in danger due to past or present 

chemicals or radiation he had been unknowingly exposed to. 

Based on its Electro Met research and data capture efforts, NIOSH determined that it has access to 

external dosimetry and air sampling data for Electro Met workers during the time period under 

evaluation. However, NIOSH also determined that external and internal dosimetry (bioassay, area 

monitoring, or source data) records are not complete for all time periods or for all radionuclides. 

NIOSH concluded that there is sufficient documentation to support, for at least part of the requested

time period, the petition basis that internal and external radiation exposures and radiation doses were 

not adequately monitored at Electro Met, either through personal monitoring or area monitoring. The 

information and statements provided by the petitioner qualified the petition for further consideration 

by NIOSH, the Board, and HHS. The details of the petition basis are addressed in Section 7.4.

3.2 Class Evaluated by NIOSH 

Although normal uranium processing did not begin until April of 1943, the site began producing 

uranium materials in late 1942 at the request of the MED in order to increase metal production; 

however, it is not clear when material arrived on site for testing purposes. August 13, 1942 is the 

official start of the MED, and thus, the earliest start date that can be attributed to Electro Met’s MED 

work. The contract with the (MED successor) Atomic Energy Commission expired on June 30, 1953 

(DOE, 1986), ending AEC involvement with the site. Therefore, NIOSH defined the following class 

for further evaluation: All workers who worked in any area at the Electro Metallurgical Corporation 

for the period from August 13, 1942 through June 30, 1953.

3.3 NIOSH-Proposed Class(es) to be Added to the SEC 

Based on its research of the class under evaluation, NIOSH has defined a single class of employees for 

which NIOSH cannot estimate radiation doses with sufficient accuracy. The NIOSH-proposed class 

to be added to the SEC includes all employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, 

and their contractors and subcontractors who worked at the Electro Metallurgical site in Niagara Falls, 

New York, for the period from August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947, for a number of work 

days aggregating at least 250 work days, occurring either solely under this employment, or in 

combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of 

employees in the Special Exposure Cohort. 
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4.0 Data Sources Reviewed by NIOSH to Evaluate the Class 

As is standard practice, NIOSH completed an extensive database and Internet search for information 

regarding Electro Met. The database search included the DOE Legacy Management Considered Sites 

database, the DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) database, the Energy 

Citations database, and the Hanford Declassified Document Retrieval System. In addition to general 

Internet searches, the NIOSH Internet search included OSTI OpenNet Advanced searches, OSTI 

Information Bridge Fielded searches, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Agency-wide 

Documents Access and Management (ADAMS) web searches, the DOE Office of Human Radiation 

Experiments website, and the DOE-National Nuclear Security Administration-Nevada Site Officesearch. Attachment 1 contains a summary of Electro Met documents. The summary specifically 

identifies data capture details and general descriptions of the documents retrieved. 

In addition to the database and Internet searches listed above, NIOSH identified and reviewed 

numerous data sources to determine information relevant to determining the feasibility of dose 

reconstruction for the class of employees under evaluation. This included determining the availability 

of information on personal monitoring, area monitoring, industrial processes, and radiation source 

materials. The following subsections summarize the data sources identified and reviewed by NIOSH.

4.1 Site Profile Technical Basis Documents (TBDs) 

A Site Profile provides specific information concerning the documentation of historical practices at 

the specified site. Dose reconstructors can use the Site Profile to evaluate internal and external 

dosimetry data for monitored and unmonitored workers, and to supplement, or substitute for, 

individual monitoring data. A Site Profile consists of an Introduction and five Technical Basis 

Documents (TBDs) that provide process history information, information on personal and area 

monitoring, radiation source descriptions, and references to primary documents relevant to the 

radiological operations at the site. The Site Profile for a small site may consist of a single document. 

As part of NIOSH’s evaluation detailed herein, it examined the following TBDs for insights into 

Electro Met operations or related topics/operations at other sites: 

Site Profiles for Atomic Weapons Employers that Worked Uranium Metals, Battelle-TBD-6000, 

Rev. 1; June 17, 2011; SRDB Ref ID: 101251 

Battelle-TBD-6001 Appendix C, Site Profiles for Atomic Weapons Employers that Refined 

Uranium and Thorium—Appendix C, Electro Metallurgical Company, Rev. 0; Battelle; December 

21, 2007; SRDB Ref ID: 41362 

Technical Basis Document for the Electro Metallurgical Company, DCAS-TKBS-0007, Rev. 00; 

February 15, 2011; SRDB Ref ID: 92953 

Basis for Development of an Exposure Matrix for the Mallinckrodt Chemical Company St. Louis 

Downtown Site and the St. Louis Airport Site, St. Louis, Missouri, ORAUT-TKBS-0005; Rev. 02 

PC-1; May 25, 2009; SRDB Ref ID: 67979 
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An Exposure Matrix for Linde Ceramics Plant (Including Tonawanda Laboratory), ORAUTTKBS-0025; Rev. 01; November 4, 2008; SRDB Ref ID: 53205 

4.2 ORAU Technical Information Bulletins (OTIBs) and Procedures

An ORAU Technical Information Bulletin (OTIB) is a general working document that provides 

guidance for preparing dose reconstructions at particular sites or categories of sites. An ORAU 

Procedure provides specific requirements and guidance regarding EEOICPA project-level activities, 

including preparation of dose reconstructions at particular sites or categories of sites. NIOSH 

reviewed the following OTIBs as part of its evaluation: 

OTIB: Estimation of Neutron Dose Rates from Alpha-Neutron Reactions in Uranium and Thorium 

Compounds, ORAUT-OTIB-0024; April 7, 2005; SRDB Ref ID: 19445

OTIB: Dose Reconstruction from Occupationally Related Diagnostic X-Ray Procedures, ORAUTOTIB-0006; Rev. 04; June 20, 2011; SRDB Ref ID: 98147

OTIB: Guidance on Assigning Occupational X-ray Dose Under EEOICPA for X-rays 

Administered Off Site, ORAUT-OTIB-0079, Rev. 00; January 3, 2011; SRDB Ref ID: 89563

4.3 Facility Employees and Experts 

To obtain additional information, NIOSH interviewed two former Electro Met employees. NIOSH 

also attempted to contact a third individual; however, multiple attempts to contact this person were 

unsuccessful. 

Personal Communication, 2009a, Personal Communication with a Former Chemist at Electro 

Metallurgical Corporation; Telephone Interview by ORAU Team; May 29, 2009; SRDB Ref ID: 

69862

Personal Communication, 2009b, Personal Communication with a Former Production Area 

Worker at Electro Metallurgical Corporation; Telephone Interview by ORAU Team; May 29, 

2009; SRDB Ref ID: 69863
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4.4 Previous Dose Reconstructions 

NIOSH reviewed its NIOSH DCAS Claims Tracking System (referred to as NOCTS) to locate 

EEOICPA-related dose reconstructions that might provide information relevant to the petition 

evaluation. Table 4-1 summarizes the results of this review. (NOCTS data available as of January 11, 

2012) 

Table 4-1: No. of Electro Met Claims Submitted Under the Dose Reconstruction Rule

Description Totals

Total number of claims submitted for dose reconstruction 104

Total number of claims submitted for energy employees who worked during the period under 

evaluation (August 13, 1942 through June 30, 1953). 104

Number of dose reconstructions completed for energy employees who worked during the period

under evaluation (i.e., the number of such claims completed by NIOSH and submitted to the 

Department of Labor for final approval). 96

Number of claims for which internal dosimetry records were obtained for the identified years in the 

evaluated class definition 1

Number of claims for which external dosimetry records were obtained for the identified years in the 

evaluated class definition 1

NIOSH reviewed each claim to determine whether internal and/or external personal monitoring 

records could be obtained for the employee. Based on its review of the dose reconstructions 

completed for Electro Met employees and the available site documentation, NIOSH has identified a 

limited quantity of personnel data and area monitoring data for the Electro Met site. NIOSH’s 

detailed review and assessment of the available records/documentation, and the process and air 

monitoring data, is provided in Sections 6.0 and 7.0 of this report. 

4.5 NIOSH Site Research Database 

NIOSH also examined its Site Research Database (SRDB) to locate documents supporting the 

assessment of the evaluated class. Two hundred fifty six (256) documents in this database were 

identified as pertaining to Electro Met. These documents were evaluated for their relevance to this 

petition. The documents include historical background on Electro Met processes and radiological 

monitoring data (e.g., dust sampling, air monitoring, urinalysis data, radiological control program, 

medical monitoring, process materials, and process description). Based on its review, NIOSH was 

able to locate monitoring records for a limited number of the individuals within the evaluated class. 

NIOSH has also located air sampling and contamination data that pertain to the Electro Met 

operational periods when uranium-refining processes were ongoing. 
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4.6 Documentation and/or Affidavits Provided by Petitioners 

In qualifying and evaluating the petition, NIOSH reviewed the following documents submitted by the 

petitioners: 

Form B for SEC-00132; DSA Ref ID: 107378 (Form B-SEC00132) 

Form B for SEC-00136; DSA Ref ID: 107806, pdf pp. 8-20 (Form B-SEC00136) 

Non-Standard Form B for SEC-00136; December 2, 2008; OSA Ref ID: 107873, pdf pp. 1-7; and

OSA Ref ID: 107806, pdf pp. 1-7 (Non-Standard Form B) 

Affidavit from Survivor for SEC-00132; December 28, 2009; OSA Ref ID: 107789, pdf p. 5 

(Affidavit, 2009) 

SEC-00132 Consult Call Response; January 7, 2009; OSA Ref ID: 107789, pdf pp. 1-4 (Consult 

Call Response, 2009) 

Preliminary Partial Dose Estimates from the Processing of Nuclear Materials at Three Plants 

During the 1940s and 1950s; USA Today article; OSA Ref ID: 107873, pdf pp. 8-23; and OSA 

Ref ID: 107806, pdf pp. 21-36 (Makhijani, 2006) 

Poisoned Workers and Poisoned Places, Chapter Two; USA Today article; OSA Ref ID: 107873, 

pdf pp. 24-27 (Eisler, 2000) 

Statement of the Honorable John N. Hostettler Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration, 

Border Security, and Claims for the December 5, 2006 Oversight Hearing on EEOICIPA; OSA 

Ref ID: 107873, pdf pp. 28-38 (Statement, 2006) 

New Study Finds Multiple Myeloma Linked to Radiation Exposures of Nuclear Workers; BioMedicine Website; OSA Ref ID: 107789, pdf pp. 6-9 (Williamson, 2000) 
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5.0 Radiological Operations Relevant to the Class Evaluated by 

NIOSH 

The following subsections summarize both radiological operations at the Electro Met from August 13, 

1942 through June 30, 1953 and the information available to NIOSH to characterize particular 

processes and radioactive source materials. From available sources NIOSH has gathered process and 

source descriptions, information regarding the identity and quantities of each radionuclide of concern, 

and information describing processes through which radiation exposures may have occurred and the 

physical environment in which they may have occurred. The information included within this 

evaluation report is intended only to be a summary of the available information. 

5.1 Electro Metallurgical Plant and Process Descriptions 

Electro Metallurgical entered into a contract with the Manhattan Engineering District (Contract No. 

W-7405-Eng.14) to design, engineer, construct, and operate a uranium plant/facilities that transformed 

metal salt into metal. A letter of intent was written on November 14, 1942, with construction starting 

on December 29, 1942. Electro Met was also requested to begin immediately using existing 

equipment; Electro Met reported in November 1942 that they had initiated the process (Construction 

Report, 1943). The plant, known as the Area Plant, was located in the manufacturing section of the 

city of Niagara Falls, New York (south of Pine Avenue and east of its intersection with Packard Road) 

and was situated within a fenced area on land owned by Electro Metallurgical. The plant was a onestory cinder block and wood structure, which measured approximately 50 feet by 219 feet, and housed 

all operations associated with the contract—operating equipment, restrooms, locker rooms, laboratory, 

and offices. The Area Plant utilities and rail spur requirements were serviced by existing utilities and 

tracks within the Electro Metallurgical plant proper. In addition to the Area Plant, there was also an 

addition known as the Magnesium Room, measuring 77 feet by 19 feet. Equipment installation was 

performed by Electro Met personnel, who made numerous minor changes after operations had started, 

but before the plant was reported 100% complete. As a result, the actual completion date for the 

construction (June 15, 1943) was reported after operations had started in the new facility (Electro Met, 

1946a).

Electro Met, a subsidiary of Union Carbide and Cargon Corporation, received uranium tetrafluoride 

from Union Carbide’s Linde Air Products Division plant at Tonawanda, New York, and converted it 

into uranium metal. The uranium metal products were primarily shipped to Hanford Engineer Works, 

but were also shipped to Argonne National Laboratory or DuPont’s Chambers Works for testing. The 

uranium metal products were shipped to Simonds Saw and Steel, Vulcan Crucible Steel Company, 

Revere Copper and Brass Company, or Joslyn Manufacturing and Supply Company for rolling. 

Process residues were shipped to other sites, including Lake Ontario Ordnance Works, Mallinckrodt 

Chemical Company, Vitro Manufacturing, DuPont Chambers Works, and Hooker Electrochemical, 

for uranium recovery, storage, or disposal. In addition to uranium-metal production from green salt, 

Electro Met also recast scrap metal from Simonds Saw and Steel, Chapman Valve Manufacturing 

Company, and American Rolling Mill Company. Electro Met’s contract also contained a provision 

for conducting research and development (DOE, 1986).
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Initial furnace operations for uranium processing in the new plant began in April 1943 (NYOO, 1951, 

p. 31). Three shifts per day were run at full operations. The plant produced uranium metal by 

reducing uranium tetrafluoride with magnesium metal under high temperature. The uranium 

tetrafluoride (green salt) and magnesium were placed in a closed-metal container called a “bomb,” 

which was then heated in a furnace to initiate the reaction. The reaction was instantaneous and 

resulted in the formation of a pool of molten uranium in the container, topped with the magnesium 

fluoride formed as the byproduct of the reaction (NYOO, 1951, p. 9). The metals were cast into 110-

135 kilogram ingots. After cooling, the bomb was opened and the uranium metal was removed, any 

adhering slag was chipped off the metallic agglomerate. Cleaned metal was then melted in a vacuum 

furnace and cast into billets in preparation for delivery to other facilities (NYOO, 1951, p. 10). With 

the exception of a standby period from September 1, 1946 through September 30, 1947, production 

ran from April 1943 until September 1949 (DOE, 1986). In August 1949, as Electro Met prepared to 

enter a standby mode at the end of September 1949, the NYOO Health and Safety Division performed 

occupational exposure assessments that prescribed health and safety improvements associated with the 

Electro Met operations (Hayden, 1948; Dust Sample Results, Aug. 1949). 

Under separate contracts, Electro Met also supplied calcium metal to Los Alamos Scientific 

Laboratory, Iowa State College, and the Atomic Energy Commission’s (AEC) Santa Fe Yards. In 

April 1950, Electro Met was reactivated for casting zirconium metal sponge into ingots for the Navy 

Critical Requirement program. The zirconium metal operations did not pose a radiological hazard 

other than exposure to the residual uranium remaining from the uranium operations that ended in 

September 1949. Based on contract AT-(40-1)-1090, between Union Carbide and Carbon Research 

Laboratories, Inc. and the AEC Oak Ridge Operations Office that “...directed Union Carbide to 

conduct research and development of methods of forming metal that would minimize unnecessary 

machining, finishing, and waste," uranium handling from January 1951 through June l951 may have 

occurred. Although the contract is not specific, the metal involved is presumed to have been uranium 

(DOE, 1986).

AEC involvement with the Electro Met site ended when contract W-7405-Eng.14 expired on June 30, 

1953 (DOE, 1986). 

Design capacity of the plant was approximately 50 tons of uranium metal (as billets) per month. 

During operations from April 1943 through August of 1946 (when the plant was placed in standby 

mode) the plant produced approximately 44 tons of metal billets per month. After restarting 

operations, Electro Met produced approximately 26 tons of metal billets per month during fiscal year 

1948, and approximately 35 tons of metal billets per month during fiscal year 1949 (NYOO, 1951, p. 

38). Operational and standby periods are outlined in Table 5-1 below. Time periods in which no 

uranium work was occurring are defined as “standby,” even though other non-radiological processes 

were occurring. 
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Table 5-1: Electro Metallurgical Corporation Operational Periods

Start Date Stop Date

Operations 4/13/1943* 8/31/1946

Standby 9/1/1946 9/30/1947

Operations 10/1/1947 9/30/1949

Standby 10/1/1949 1/1/1951

Operations 1/1/1951 6/30/1951

4 Standby 6/30/1951 6/30/1953 5

Source: DCAS-TKBS-0007

* August 13, 1942 is the official start of the MED, and thus, the earliest start date that can be attributed to 

Electro Met’s MED work. For the purposes of this evaluation report, uranium operations are assumed to 

have started on August 13, 1942 based on requests by the MED to start prior to completion of the facility. 

Electro Met employed 70 men to work on the reduction process (NYOO, 1951, pdf p. 52). The 

process of reducing uranium tetrafluoride to uranium metal was comprised of several steps performed 

by different job types. Those with the highest potential for exposure to radiation or radioactive 

materials are described in Table 5-2 below (Dust Sample Results, Dec. 1947-May 1948). NIOSH did 

not locate any documentation indicating that the uranium reduction process initiated in April 1943 

was modified or altered during the course of operations (i.e., the same process steps were employed 

during uranium-handling operations over the entire history of AEC involvement at the site). 

However, NIOSH did locate documents which state that in late 1947 significant yet unspecified 

improvements were made to the health and safety program at Electro Met (Harris, 1953, pdf p. 75).

Table 5-2: The Uranium Tetrafluoride-to-Metal Reduction Process

Step Job Title Description

1 Green Room Operator Moved bombs (lined with dolomite) to the green salt (i.e., uranium 

tetrafluoride) room

Charged the bomb with a mixture of uranium tetrafluoride and 

magnesium

Cleaned up the work area

2 Bomb Topper Packed and sealed the top of the bomb

Used vise to close top, inserted gasket, sealed and bolted on the cover

Moved the bomb to the next station

3 Head Reaction Operator Inspected and placed bomb into gas-fired furnace

Removed bomb from the furnace at the end of heating cycle and placed it 

into a cooling tank

Removed bomb from cooling tank and trucked to bomb room

4 Bomb Chipper Opened bomb

Drilled down bomb liner

Jolted out the uranium derbies

Chipped slag from derbies in chipping booth

Barreled and weighed slag

5 Head Remelt 

Operator/Furnace Operator

Operated a high-frequency vacuum furnace to melt and cast uranium

Placed ingot molds and prepared furnace

Weighed and recorded weight of charge and finished ingots
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Table 5-2: The Uranium Tetrafluoride-to-Metal Reduction Process

Step Job Title Description

6 Repairman Maintained graphite furnace parts

Used reamers, seaters, facers, and other hand tools to shape graphite parts

7 Saw Man Set up and operated power hack saw to cut uranium bar stock to length

Stamped identification marks on samples

8 Laboratory Handy-man Prepared uranium samples in sample preparation room

Cleaned laboratory table

Source: Dust Sample Results, Dec. 1947-May 1948 

Other jobs that did not involve the direct handling of uranium tetrafluoride or metal, but that may have 

had the potential for exposure to radiation and/or radioactive materials include the following job titles: 

general foreman, foreman, shift foreman, repair man, store room attendant, storekeeper, janitor, guard, 

office personnel, technician, and chemist (Dust Sample Results, Dec. 1947-May 1948).

Electro Met was also contracted to conduct research into ore processing (ore beneficiation program) as 

part of its initial contract. Minimal documentation is available, but for all indications this program 

was conducted for a short time beginning in April 1945 and concluding in August 1945 using small 

quantities of low-grade African ore (MED, 1945). Very little specific information is available 

regarding the facilities and activities associated with these materials. However, based on the detailed 

material transfer forms and summary research reports, it is believed that only very small quantities 

were used at Electro Met during the period of performance. No specific information is available to 

NIOSH regarding operational exposure levels or clean-up. By employing a wet process involving 

chemical leaching, the exposure potential from these processes was low (Ore Beneficiation, 1945a; 

Ore Beneficiation, 1945b). NIOSH has not located any documentation indicating that there were 

other sources of radiation at Electro Met during the later part of period under evaluation (i.e., January 

1, 1948 and June 30, 1953).

At the end of the contract, Electro Met purchased the facility from AEC. The plant and equipment 

were decontaminated through washing, vacuuming, and in some locations, removing concrete floors 

and wooden platforms. In 1953, the site was surveyed and released by AEC’s Health and Safety 

Division. Following the termination of the MED/AEC contracts, under New York State Radioactive 

Material License 950-0139, Electro Met processed ores containing uranium and thorium for 

commercial use (FUSRAP, date unknown).
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5.2 Radiological Exposure Sources from Electro Met Operations 

The following subsections provide an overview of the internal and external exposure sources for the 

Electro Met class under evaluation. 

5.2.1 Internal Radiological Exposure Sources from Electro Met Operations 

The primary source of internal radiological exposure resulting from Electro Met operations was 

inhalation and/or ingestion of uranium metal or uranium tetrafluoride. The hazards represented from 

uranium-bearing dust in the air were well documented, particularly in the years preceding 1948, with 

exposures greater than 500 times the tolerance level of the day being routinely measured (Dust 

Sample Results, Aug. 1949). Ingestion was discussed less commonly, but it can be assumed that, 

depending upon hygiene controls enforced at the time, as well as each employee’s personal habits, 

uranium ingestion was highly likely. NIOSH found data indicating that there were significant 

uranium surface contamination levels, which would have presented an internal exposure hazard due to 

uranium re-suspension during work activities (Smear Results, Dec. 1952-Aug. 1953).

NIOSH found little information pertaining to exposure conditions during the standby periods shown in 

Table 5-1. However, NIOSH’s review of the available information shows that plant maintenance 

operations were conducted by maintenance personnel and involved operating the motorized 

equipment and manually operating the other equipment whenever possible. No information has been 

found related to what activities occurred in the facility, occupancy levels, or possible clean-up 

activities.

The radiological hazard presented by uranium metal or compounds results primarily from alpha 

particles emitted by uranium-238 (4.15 MeV and 4.20 MeV) and its isotopes uranium-235 (4.37 MeV, 

4.40 MeV, and 4.58 MeV) and uranium-234 (4.72 MeV and 4.77 MeV). Naturally occurring uranium 

is 0.71% (w/w) uranium-235 and 0.0055% (w/w) uranium-234. NIOSH assumes that uranium 

tetrafluoride received at Electro Met was derived solely from naturally occurring ores. This 

assumption is based on the knowledge that the uranium produced at Electro Met was fabricated into 

fuel for use in the production reactors at Hanford, which only used uranium of natural enrichments. 

On an activity basis (i.e., dpm/gram) the uranium-235 will be present in negligible amounts at these 

enrichment levels, but the uranium-234 activity will be at a level that is essentially equal to uranium238 due to its much shorter half-life (2.46E05 years for uranium-234 and 4.47E09 years for uranium238, respectively). 

It is known also that some facilities were involved in processing uranium recovered from spent 

nuclear fuel. This material contained trace amounts of transuranic radionuclides, which could have 

been concentrated during the refining process, thereby presenting an internal dose hazard. However, 

the use of recycled uranium did not commence until 1952, which is well into the final standby period 

at Electro Met. For this reason, it can be assumed that recycled uranium was not processed at the 

Electro Met site. 
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Other alpha-emitting radionuclides occur naturally as part of the uranium-238 decay process. 

However, these would have been removed during the processing of uranium feed materials to generate 

the uranium tetrafluoride provided to Electro Met for the metal reduction process. Sufficient time 

would not have elapsed to allow in-growth of these progeny to appreciable activities such that an 

additional hazard would have been posed to Electro Met personnel. 

5.2.2 External Radiological Exposure Sources from Electro Met Operations 

Based on information and documentation available to NIOSH, the potential for external radiation 

doses from uranium and uranium decay products existed at the Electro Met site. The uranium was 

solely derived from naturally-occurring ores, and thus exhibited a natural isotopic abundance. The 

following subsections provide an overview of the external exposure sources. 

5.2.2.1 Photon 

Uranium metal and uranium tetrafluoride were handled by Electro Met employees. External 

exposures to photon radiation would have resulted from the immediate daughter radionuclides in the 

uranium decay chain. The uranium progeny that result in the most significant photon exposures 

include thorium-234 and protactinium-234m (Radiological Health Handbook, 1970). Note that these 

isotopes have relatively short half-lives and can be assumed to be in equilibrium with the parent 

uranium-238. Because of their short half-lives, the exposure potential from these isotopes would 

travel with the parent and will not be considered separately.

5.2.2.2 Beta 

Exposure to beta sources for Electro Met employees would have resulted principally from uranium 

decay products. In the uranium-series decay scheme, beginning with uranium-238, the short-lived 

isotope protactinium-234m emits the most energetic beta particle (2.28 MeV). It is this beta particle 

that accounts for the shallow-dose hazard associated with handling uranium and uranium tetrafluoride. 

5.2.2.3 Neutron 

There was a small potential for personnel neutron exposures from the uranium operations at Electro 

Met. As described in Section 5.2.1, site personnel received and handled uranium tetrafluoride. Lowatomic-number elements, such as fluorine, emit neutrons of approximately 2 MeV energy when struck 

by alpha particles (referred to as alpha-neutron (“α-n”) reactions). The radiation field emitted by these 

reactions increases as a function of the enrichment. Because only uranium with a natural isotopic ratio 

(or a “natural enrichment”) was used at Electro Met, the neutron radiation field was significantly 

lower than the gamma component; therefore, neutrons are not considered a significant exposure 

concern and are not addressed further in this evaluation. 
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5.2.3 Incidents 

In Section E.5 of the Form B for Petition SEC-00136, the petitioner made the following statement 

with regard to the uranium-metal production process: The process was typically troublesome involving 

frequent blow-outs. However, the petitioner provided no specific description for a “blow-out” event, 

nor was other supporting information provided that indicated the frequency, dates, or other relevant 

data. The only discussion NIOSH found about blowouts at Electro Met was in the USA Today article 

attached to the Petition, which briefly stated that “Historically, the process was typically troublesome, 

involving frequent blowouts, especially under conditions of production pressure that characterized the 

first two decades of the nuclear era” (Makhijani, 2006, p. 16). Like the petition, the article provides 

no specific description or supporting information regarding the blowouts. 

During interviews with former Electro Met employees, NIOSH asked questions about blowout events. 

Neither of the interviewees knew of, or had information regarding any blowout events at Electro Met. 

NIOSH is aware of a condition (referred to as a blowout) that may occur during the uranium 

tetrafluoride reduction process. The condition is identified in information and documentation from 

Ames Laboratory, Feed Materials Production Center, and Mallinckrodt Chemical Works. Information 

in Electro Met construction documentation indicates that the site was aware of the need to carefully 

control the heating of the reaction bomb. Electro Met documentation recognized that an uncontrolled 

reaction could result in an explosion of the bomb (Electro Met, 1946a, p. 6). During its Electro Met 

research and investigation of the documentation available in the SRDB, NIOSH discovered no 

evidence to support the occurrence of any reduction process blowouts in the associated documentation 

for the site. Further review of this potential condition is included in Sections 6 and 7 of this report. 

6.0 Summary of Available Monitoring Data for the Class Evaluated 

by NIOSH 

The following subsections provide an overview of the state of the available internal and external 

monitoring data for the Electro Met class under evaluation. 

6.1 Available Electro Metallurgical Internal Monitoring Data 

As shown in Table 6-1 below, NIOSH located a total of 111 urinalysis results (67 from July through 

September, 1944 and 44 from October through December, 1949) (Urinalysis Results, July 1944-Sept. 

1944; Urinalysis Results, Oct. 1949-Dec. 1949). The urinalysis data are comprised of data from 48 

different employees (5 employees were sampled during both periods) with approximately half of the 

results being recorded as zero. The 1949 data include employee job categories, but the 1944 data do 

not include job categories. 
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The 1944 results are listed in what appears to be a summary report, as opposed to a laboratory data 

sheet, and are reported in units Mg/L of either Ion F or Ion X. It can be assumed that Ion X is 

uranium because an air sample report in the same reference (Dust Sample Results, April 1944) reports 

results in “X-Dust micrograms per cubic meter.” Also, recommendations for urinalysis samples 

(Belmore, 1947) indicated that monitoring for uranium and fluorine should have been performed. It 

would be logical to assume that “Ion F” is fluorine while “Ion X” is uranium. The exact meaning of 

the units Mg/L is uncertain, but likely represents milligrams per liter of urine. This assumption is 

consistent with the 1949 results reports, as well as those from other uranium-refining operations 

during this time period (ORAUT-TKBS-0025; ORAUT-TKBS-0005). The laboratory performing the 

analyses is not indicated except through reference to Dr. Eugene Roberts in a MED report (MED 

Work Report, 1944, pdf p. 19), who was to analyze the samples within a few hours of receiving them. 

The MED report further states that arrangements had been made for the monitoring program to collect 

urine samples from one-half of the employees once per month. Following through on this 

information, NIOSH was able to confirm through the autobiography of Dr. Roberts that he was at 

Rochester and developed uranium bioassay methods for monitoring workers for the Manhattan Project 

(Roberts, 1998). The analysis method used at Rochester was fusion photofluorimetry (ORAUTTKBS-0025, pdf p. 31). The capabilities and sensitivity of this technique are well documented 

(Wilson, 1958).

Though limited in number, the 1949 data are better presented than the 1944 data in that: (1) the job 

category for each sample is identified; (2) the results are clearly for the analysis of uranium in urine; 

(3) the method is clearly identified (i.e., fluorimetric); and (4) the units identified, mg/L, are consistent 

with those reported for other sites (ORAUT-TKBS-0005; ORAUT-TKBS-0025). The assumption 

that the method is fusion photofluorimetry is supported because the uranium fusion photofluorimetry 

urinalyses performed by the University of Rochester and the AEC NYOO were similar to those 

preformed at other AEC facilities. 

Air sampling data were located for the years 1944, 1947, 1948, and 1949 (Dust Sample Results, July 

1944; Dust Sample Results, Dec. 1947-May 1948; Dust Sample Results, Aug. 1949), with the bulk 

generated in 1948 and 1949. Approximately 50% of the air sampling data can be associated with 

specific job categories (the remaining air sampling data are legible, but the specific job categories are 

illegible). As with the bioassay results, these appear to be job categories with the highest potential for 

exposure. It is worth noting that no bioassay data and only 11 air sampling results were located for 

the standby periods discussed in Section 5.0. With the exception of the 11 results from 1953 (during 

the last standby period), 135 air samples were collected during Electro Met operational periods. The 

operational data represent a total of about 19 sampling days, while the 11 standby period results were 

collected in a single day. Based on health improvements described as occurring in late 1947 (Harris 

1953, pdf p. 75), NIOSH has determined that neither the bioassay nor early limited air sampling data 

are sufficient to bound internal dose at Electro Metallurgical for the August 13, 1942 through 

December 31, 1947 portion of the class under evaluation.
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Contamination survey data were collected in December 1952 and August 1953 (Smear Results, Dec. 

1952-Aug. 1953). The December smear sample results include those labeled “before wipe” and “after 

wipe.” According to a separate report containing this same data (Belmore, 1953), a crude cleaning 

was performed to determine the ease of subsequent decontamination efforts to release the facility. 

Since the “after wipe” results reflect small areas that were cleaned, they will be of limited usefulness 

in establishing general radiological surface contamination conditions. Based on information in a 1951 

report, the “entire” area was cleaned before October 1, 1949, by washing and vacuuming prior to 

going into standby (NYOO, 1951) status.

Table 6-1 provides a summary of data found in the SRDB that will assist in calculating bounding 

internal doses. 

Table 6-1: Available Data to Support a Bounding Internal Dose Estimate

Year Facility Status1 Bioassay Air Samples Contamination 

Surveys

No. Monitored No. Samples No. Samples No. Surveys

1943 N/A 0 0 0 0

1944 Operational 24 67 5 0

1945 N/A 0 0 0 0

1946 N/A 0 0 0 0

1947 Operational 0 0 7 0

1948 Operational 0 0 29 0

1949 Operational 24 44 82 0

1950 N/A 0 0 0 0

1951 N/A 0 0 0 0

1952 Standby 0 0 0 177

1953 Standby 0 0 11 28

Notes: 

1

Indicates facility status when the data was collected. 
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Figure 6-1 shows the Electro Met operational periods and the uranium air sample data points in 

relation to those periods. 

Operational Periods

 at Electro Metallurgical 

ElectroMet Operational Periods and Uranium

 Air Sample Data

1/1/1941

1/1/1942

1/1/1943

1/1/1944

1/1/19451/1/1946

1/1/19471/1/1948

1/1/1949

1/1/1950

1/1/1951

1/1/1952

1/1/1953

1/1/1954

ug uranium per m

3 (air)

0

2e+5

4e+5

6e+5

8e+5

1e+6

operational periods

shown in gray

Figure 6-1: Air samples Collected at Electro Met and Their Relation to Operational Periods 
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6.2 Available Electro Metallurgical External Monitoring Data 

Routine film badging of the Electro Met workers began on June 7, 1948 (Heatherton, 1948). NIOSH 

has obtained weekly film badge results that cover the period between June 7, 1948 and September 30, 

1949 (Dosimetry Results, June 1948-June 1949; Dosimetry Results, Aug.-Dec. 1948; Dosimetry 

Results, March 1948-Jan. 1949; Dosimetry Results, Jan-Sep. 1949). The results include both gamma 

and beta exposure results for approximately fifty individuals for each period listed. As one of the 

employee interviews indicated, roughly thirty to forty foundry workers were on the first shift 

(Personal Communication, 2009a); this data represents a large portion, if not all, of the exposed 

foundry workers. 

Some dosimetry results are listed by employee name, and other results are listed by employee name 

and job title. The job titles listed include, but are not limited to the following: bomb topper, 

handyman, operator (Green Room), head re-melt operator/furnace operator, head reaction operator, 

utility man (bomb chipper), special saw operator (saw man), and repairman. These job titles represent 

those who worked most closely with the materials (Electro Met, 1948; Dust Sample Results, Dec. 

1947-May 1948) and would be expected to be the maximally exposed portion of the workforce. Other 

job titles that did not involve the direct handling of uranium tetrafluoride or metal, but that may have 

had the potential for exposure to radiation and/or radioactive materials include the following: general 

foreman, foreman, shift foreman, repair man, store room attendant, storekeeper, janitor, guard, office 

personnel, technician, and chemist (Dust Sample Results, Dec. 1947-May 1948).

There were some ambient beta and gamma measurements taken on process equipment and building 

surfaces in 1946 (Electro Met, 1946b), 1947 (Hayden, 1947), and in 1953 (Belmore, 1953, p. 3). For 

the results taken in 1946, the highest gamma value was 0.005 r/8 hrs and the highest beta value was 

0.22 r/8 hrs. From the 1947 data, the highest surface reading was 12.0 mrep/hr, measured on the floor 

of the “old burn out area." The data collected in 1953 were in preparation for dismantlement of the 

building and the highest reading was found on the floor around the cut-off saw, with a reading of 2 

mr/hr gamma, and 15 mrep/hr beta.

7.0 Feasibility of Dose Reconstruction for the Class Evaluated by 

NIOSH 

The feasibility determinations for the class of employees under evaluation in this report are governed 

by both EEOICPA and 42 C.F.R. § 83.13(c)(1). Under that Act and rule, NIOSH must establish 

whether or not it has access to sufficient information either to estimate the maximum radiation dose 

for every type of cancer for which radiation doses are reconstructed that could have been incurred 

under plausible circumstances by any member of the class, or to estimate the radiation doses to 

members of the class more precisely than a maximum dose estimate. If NIOSH has access to 

sufficient information for either case, NIOSH would then determine that it would be feasible to 

conduct dose reconstructions. 
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In determining feasibility, NIOSH begins by evaluating whether current or completed NIOSH dose 

reconstructions demonstrate the feasibility of estimating with sufficient accuracy the potential 

radiation exposures of the class. If the conclusion is one of infeasibility, NIOSH systematically 

evaluates the sufficiency of different types of monitoring data, process and source or source term data, 

which together or individually might ensure that NIOSH can estimate either the maximum doses that 

members of the class might have incurred, or more precise quantities that reflect the variability of 

exposures experienced by groups or individual members of the class as summarized in Section 7.6. 

This approach is discussed in DCAS’s SEC Petition Evaluation Internal Procedures which are 

available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas. The next four major subsections of this Evaluation 

Report examine: 

The sufficiency and reliability of the available data. (Section 7.1) 

The feasibility of reconstructing internal radiation doses. (Section 7.2) 

The feasibility of reconstructing external radiation doses. (Section 7.3) 

The bases for petition SEC-00136 as submitted by the petitioner. (Section 7.4) 

7.1 Pedigree of Electro Metallurgical Data 

This subsection answers questions that need to be asked before performing a feasibility evaluation. 

Data Pedigree addresses the background, history, and origin of the data. It requires looking at site 

methodologies that may have changed over time; primary versus secondary data sources and whether 

they match; and whether data are internally consistent. All these issues form the bedrock of the 

researcher’s confidence and later conclusions about the data’s quality, credibility, reliability, 

representativeness, and sufficiency for determining the feasibility of dose reconstruction. The 

feasibility evaluation presupposes that data pedigree issues have been settled. 

7.1.1 Internal Monitoring Data Pedigree Review 

7.1.1.1 Urinalysis Data 

As previously mentioned in Section 6.0, NIOSH has obtained a total of 111 urinalysis results from 48 

different employees, collected during 1944 and 1949, with approximately half of the results being 

recorded as zero. The 1944 results comprise the bulk of the data and are non-specific with regard to 

employee job category. 

The 1949 results consist of 44 measurements from samples collected during October through 

December of that year. The results are reported on forms with the heading “Atomic Energy 

Commission, New York Operations Office (NYOO), Medical Division,” which leads to the 

assumption that the analyses were performed by the AEC Health and Safety Laboratory (HASL). In 

addition, the distribution sheet is from the “Chemistry Laboratory” and includes a prominent scientist 

who is known to have worked for NYOO at that time. 
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The urinalysis data, collected by HASL who had the objective to assess exposures at AEC facilities 

and also performed assessments at many other facilities, are legible and are in original form. The 

available data can be used to support the evaluation of a reasonable estimate of the internal dose for 

the employees with whom the data are associated. Based on health improvements described as 

occurring in late 1947 (Harris 1953, pdf p. 75), which was before the better-quality air sampling, 

NIOSH has determined that neither the bioassay nor the early limited air sampling data are sufficient 

to bound internal dose at Electro Metallurgical for the August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947 

portion of the class under evaluation. 

7.1.1.2 Air Sample Data 

There are a total of 135 air sample results from 1944 (Dust Sample Results, July 1944), 1947 (Dust 

Sample Results, Dec. 1947-May 1948), 1948 (Dust Sample Results, Dec. 1947-May 1948; Dust 

Sample Results, Nov. 1948-Jan. 1949), 1949 (Dust Sample Results, Aug. 1949), and 1953 (Dust 

Sample Results, Aug. 1953), with the bulk of the results from 1948 and 1949. The 12 results from 

1944 and 1947 appear in an original summary report format and not on a laboratory data sheet. The 

remaining 122 results are reported on a laboratory data sheet entitled “United States Atomic Energy 

Commission Office of New York Operations Radiological Laboratory.” As in the case of the 

urinalysis results above, this leads to the conclusion that analysis was performed by HASL. The 

method indicated on the laboratory data sheets is simply “α counter” and the results are reported in 

units of d/m/m3. No detection limit or background count information is provided; however, these 

parameters may be estimated from the discussions of other sites that utilized HASL for analysis (e.g., 

the Mallinckrodt site, ORAUT-TKBS-0005) or by analysis of the data itself. Eleven air sample 

results were located from the standby period in 1953. 

The usefulness of the air sample data must be considered within the context of their applicability to 

every operational period. Based on health improvements described as occurring in late 1947 (Harris 

1953, pdf p. 75), NIOSH has determined that neither the bioassay nor early limited air sampling data 

are sufficient to bound the internal dose at Electro Metallurgical for the August 13, 1942 through 

December 31, 1947 portion of the class under evaluation. 

7.1.1.3 Surface Contamination Data 

There are 177 original results for removable surface contamination collected in December 1952 and 

28 results collected in August 1953. The surface contamination data are comprised of smear samples 

collected throughout the Electro Met facility on floors, equipment, desks, and virtually all other 

surfaces. Of the 177 smear samples collected in 1952, 56 were labeled as “after wipe” results. The 

surface contamination data are reported on laboratory data sheets from the US AEC NYOO Health 

and Safety Division; therefore, the samples were likely analyzed at HASL. The specific analytical 

method is not indicated, but is reported as “α count” on the data sheets. Although specific instrument 

counting information regarding the minimum detectable activity, the background counting time, and 

background counts from which the MDA could be calculated are not available, a value for the MDA 

could be inferred from the smear data since the activity for several smears is recorded as <1.0 

dpm/sample. This information may be used to supplement NIOSH’s internal dose-bounding approach 

for the class under evaluation who worked during the standby period after clean-up of the facility. 
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7.1.2 External Monitoring Data Pedigree Review 

The film badge results obtained by NIOSH are in original form and represent a large fraction of the, if 

not the entire, foundry workforce for the period monitored from June 7, 1948 through September 30, 

1949. The titles associated with the film badge results indicate the jobs with the highest exposure 

potential (Electro Met, 1948). As the materials handled and methods used did not change during the 

covered period, this data may be used to estimate external penetrating exposure for all workers 

including those who worked at this site prior to and after this monitored period. NIOSH intends to use 

this information to support its ability to bound external dose for the class evaluated in this report. 

7.2 Evaluation of Bounding Internal Radiation Doses at Electro Met 

The principal source of internal radiation doses for members of the class under evaluation was 

inhalation of uranium-bearing dust generated during the reduction of uranium tetrafluoride to uranium 

metal. The following subsections address the ability to bound internal doses, methods for bounding 

doses, and the feasibility of internal dose reconstruction. 

7.2.1 Evaluation of Bounding Process-Related Internal Doses 

The following subsections summarize the extent and limitations of information available for 

reconstructing the process-related internal doses of members of the class under evaluation.

7.2.1.1 Urinalysis Information and Available Data 

As previously stated, NIOSH has determined that the monitoring data available to it for Electro 

Metallurgical are insufficient to determine a sufficiently-accurate bounding dose from uranium- and 

ore-handling operations prior to 1948. As discussed in Section 6.1, there were a limited number of 

bioassay samples taken (i.e., samples were taken for only two years out of the ten-year evaluated 

period). NIOSH intends to use these bioassay data, coupled with the available air sample data, to 

assess and corroborate the internal dose estimates calculated using DCAS-TKBS-0007 methodology 

as a bounding internal dose reconstruction approach for the workers for the January 1, 1948 through 

June 30, 1953 portion of the class under evaluation. 

7.2.1.2 Airborne Levels 

A substantial quantity of air sample data providing gross alpha analytical results exist for some of the 

Electro Met operational periods indicated in Table 5-1. Based on the knowledge of the process 

conducted, it can be assumed that the alpha activity consists of uranium-238, uranium-234, and 

uranium-235. However, the bulk of the data are from samples collected in 1948 and 1949, with a few 

(12) collected in 1944 and 1947. Although no unusual occurrences (such as blowouts) were identified 

in the available documentation, in the case that potential exposure condition occurred on the 

frequency identified by the petitioner, the associated exposures and airborne concentrations would be 

accounted for in the available bioassay and air sample data. 
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7.2.2 Evaluation of Bounding Ambient Environmental Internal Doses 

Ambient environmental internal doses could have resulted from the inhalation of radionuclides in 

locations outside of the process/operations areas at Electro Met. NIOSH has identified no specific 

indication that ambient air particulate levels were monitored at Electro Met. However, the ambient 

environmental exposures would be included and accounted for in the occupational monitoring data 

available for site personnel. Based on this information and the available data and documentation on

Electro Met operations, NIOSH has concluded the following: Ambient environmental internal doses 

associated with ambient environmental airborne exposures outside the direct vicinity of the Electro 

Met process areas are accounted for, and can be bounded by, application of operational internal dose 

assessment methods for the January 1, 1948 through June 30, 1953 portion of the period under 

evaluation. Therefore, further analysis and evaluation of the ability to bound (reconstruct dose with 

sufficient accuracy) ambient environmental external dose is not included in this report. 

7.2.3 Methods for Bounding Internal Dose at Electro Metallurgical 

7.2.3.1 Methods for Bounding Operational Period Internal Dose 

NIOSH has reviewed extensive information relating to Electro Met and has found a number of 

urinalysis records and air sampling data. NIOSH has determined that neither the bioassay nor the 

early limited air sampling data are sufficient to bound the dose at Electro Metallurgical for the August 

13, 1942 through December 31, 1947 portion of the period under evaluation.

NIOSH has concluded that it is feasible to bound (reconstruct dose with sufficient accuracy) internal 

dose for the January 1, 1948 through June 30, 1953 portion of the class under evaluation by using the 

data available for that period and applying the methodology in DCAS-TKBS-0007.

7.2.4 Internal Dose Reconstruction Feasibility Conclusion 

NIOSH has reviewed extensive information relating to Electro Met and has found a number of 

urinalysis records and air sampling data. These data do not reflect every year of Electro Met 

operations. 

NIOSH has determined that neither the bioassay nor the early limited air sampling data are sufficient 

to bound the dose at Electro Metallurgical for the August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947 

portion of the period under evaluation. Based on health improvements described as occurring in late 

1947, the internal dose related data collected after 1947 cannot be extrapolated to exposures occurring 

prior to 1948 at Electro Metallurgical. 

Based on the available information and the assessment presented in Section 7.2, NIOSH has 

concluded that it is feasible to bound (reconstruct dose with sufficient accuracy) internal dose for the 

January 1, 1948 through June 30, 1953 portion of the class under evaluation. However, as is the case 

with all dose reconstructions, NIOSH may choose to review and apply more-refined dose 

reconstruction approaches and methods, evaluated on a case-by-case basis for specific individual dose 

reconstructions. 
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Although NIOSH found that it is not possible to completely reconstruct internal radiation doses for the 

period from August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947, NIOSH intends to use any internal 

monitoring data that may become available for an individual claim (and that can be interpreted using 

existing NIOSH dose reconstruction processes or procedures). Dose reconstructions for individuals 

employed at Electro Metallurgical during the period from August 13, 1942 through December 31, 

1947, but who do not qualify for inclusion in the SEC, may be performed using these data as 

appropriate. 

7.3 Evaluation of Bounding External Radiation Doses at Electro Met 

The principal source of external radiation doses for members of the evaluated class was gamma and 

beta radiation associated with handling and working in proximity to uranium tetrafluoride and 

uranium metal. 

The following subsections address the ability to bound external doses, methods for bounding doses, 

and the feasibility of external dose reconstruction. 

7.3.1 Evaluation of Bounding Process-Related External Doses 

NIOSH has documentation of film badge results covering a sixteen month period between June 7, 

1948 and September 30, 1949 (Dosimetry Results, June 1948-June 1949; Dosimetry Results, Aug.-

Dec. 1948; Dosimetry Results, March 1948-Jan. 1949; Dosimetry Results, Jan.-Sep. 1949). The 

documents include both photon (gamma) and beta exposure results. The data include results for job 

titles that represent the maximally exposed work population and cover a period of routine plant 

operations. 

As the radiation sources and plant processes are representative of the operational periods, these data 

may be used to bound exposures during those periods. For the non-operational or standby periods, 

DCAS-TKBS-0007 provides guidance that may be used to bound the external photon and beta doses 

based on the operational period results. 

7.3.2 Evaluation of Bounding Ambient Environmental External Doses 

Ambient environmental external doses could have resulted from low-level exposures to radioactive 

materials in locations outside of the process/operations areas at Electro Met. There is no specific 

indication that ambient radiation levels were monitored at Electro Met. However, ambient 

environmental external doses would be included and accounted for in the occupational monitoring 

data available for site personnel. In addition, this site managed one significant radioactive material 

source, natural abundance uranium, and had no operations involving other radioactive materials prior 

to the evaluated period. Based on this information, and the available data and documentation 

associated with the Electro Met operations, NIOSH has concluded that ambient environmental 

external doses, associated with exposures outside the direct vicinity of the Electro Met process areas, 

are accounted for and can be bounded using operational external dose assessment methods. 

Therefore, further analysis and evaluation of the ability to bound (reconstruct dose with sufficient 

accuracy) ambient environmental external dose is not included in this report. 
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7.3.3 Electro Met Occupational X-Ray Examinations 

A memo reviewing the medical program at Electro Metallurgical was written by the MED in 1945 

(Mears, 1945). The memo recommended pre-employment, annual, and termination X-rays. Available 

documentation supports the notion that Electro Met was a full-service site. Consequently, NIOSH has 

accepted as a working assumption that medical X-rays were performed on-site. Although no 

information regarding occupational medical dose have been identified specific to Electro Met, the 

dose associated with medical X-ray exams, if required as a condition of employment, can be assessed 

using the methodology defined in ORAUT-OTIB-0006. Therefore, NIOSH concludes that it is likely 

feasible to reconstruct occupational medical dose for Electro Met workers with sufficient accuracy. 

7.3.4 Methods for Bounding External Dose at Electro Met

There is an established protocol for assessing external exposure when performing dose reconstructions 

(these protocol steps are discussed in the following subsections): 

Photon Dose 

Beta Dose 

Medical X-ray Dose (as applicable per Section 7.3.3) 

7.3.4.1 Methods for Bounding Operational Period External Dose

NIOSH has obtained sufficient personnel dosimetry records to reconstruct occupational photon and 

beta dose for the covered period. A bounding approach for neutron and medical X-ray dose is 

outlined below. 

Photon Dose 

Photon dose may be bound using guidance from DCAS-TKBS-0007. To take advantage of all data, 

including dosimetry results where job titles are not reported, the aggregate of all film badge results, 

which includes the maximally exposed work group for the site, may be considered to represent a 

lognormal distribution. These film badge results are documented to cover a range of job types. For 

the purpose of bounding the dose for the evaluated class, a maximum percentile of the lognormal 

distribution may be applied. For the purpose of providing a refined dose estimate, that would 

represent a dose that is more precise than a bounding dose estimate, a lower percentile dose from the 

distribution may be applied. There were three non-operational or standby periods interspaced within 

the operational periods. For these times, a minimum percentile of the lognormal distribution may be 

used to assign dose. This is conservative, as the standby periods were likely to have reduced or zero 

inventories and little interaction with the processing equipment. 
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Beta Dose 

Beta dose may also be bound using guidance from DCAS-TKBS-0007. As in the photon dose, these 

results may be considered to represent a lognormal distribution. For the purpose of bounding the dose 

for the evaluated class, a maximum percentile of the lognormal distribution may be applied. For the 

purpose of providing a refined dose estimate, that would represent a dose that is more precise than a 

bounding dose estimate, a lower percentile dose from the distribution may be applied. For the nonoperational periods, a minimum percentile of the lognormal distribution may be used to assign dose. 

This is conservative, as the standby periods were likely to have reduced or zero inventories and little 

interaction with the processing equipment. 

Medical X-ray Dose 

With the exception of a memo recommending pre-employment, annual, and termination X-rays 

(Mears, 1945; Belmore, 1947), NIOSH has not found any site-specific information regarding 

occupational medical dose. NIOSH has accepted as a working assumption that medical X-rays were 

performed on-site. Consequently, the dose associated with X-ray exams can be assessed using the 

methodology defined in ORAUT-OTIB-0006. NIOSH believes that this methodology supports its 

ability to bound the occupational medical X-ray doses for the evaluated class. 

7.3.5 External Dose Reconstruction Feasibility Conclusion 

External photon and beta dose may be bounded using DCAS-TKBS-0007; external occupational 

X-ray dose may be bounded using ORAUT-OTIB-0006. However, as is the case with all dose 

reconstructions, NIOSH may choose to review and apply more refined dose reconstruction approaches 

and methods, evaluated on a case-by-case basis, for specific individual dose reconstructions. 

7.4 Evaluation of Petition Basis for SEC-00136 

The following subsections evaluate the assertions made on behalf of petition SEC-00136 for Electro 

Metallurgical Corporation.

7.4.1 Dosimeters/Monitoring 

SEC-00132: The petitioner provided a statement by affidavit, in support of Item F.1, stating: I 

[petitioner name] know for sure that my husband never wore a dosimetry badge at any time in his 

career with Union Carbide. 

Petition SEC-00132 was merged with SEC-00136. NIOSH has been unable to locate badge data 

specific for the Electro Met worker referenced in Petition SEC-00132. It is unclear from the 

documentation reviewed whether this employee was unmonitored due to oversight, was monitored but 

the records lost, or did not require monitoring. Badge data were located for employees with a similar 

job title (Clerk). In any case, NIOSH has located a substantial amount of film badge data from other 

Electro Met workers. NIOSH believes that it has sufficient film badge data to reconstruct the external 

dose of every member of the evaluated class with sufficient accuracy. 
SEC-00136, Rev. 1 01-31-12 Electro Metallurgical 

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SEC-00136: The petitioner provided a statement (not an affidavit) in support of Item E.4, citing: (1) 

DOL/DOE records that indicate no (or very little) monitoring; and (2) no monitoring or inadequate 

monitoring was performed, as indicated in a USA Today article.

NIOSH has reviewed extensive information relating to Electro Met and has found a number of 

urinalysis records and air sampling data. These data do not reflect every year of Electro Met 

operations. Based on its assessment (see Sections 7.1 and 7.2), NIOSH has determined that neither 

the bioassay nor the early limited air sampling data are sufficient to bound the dose at Electro 

Metallurgical for the August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947 portion of the period under 

evaluation. However, NIOSH has also determined that there are sufficient film badge, air sample, and 

urinalysis results to support bounding the dose (reconstructing external and internal doses with 

sufficient accuracy) for the January 1, 1948 through June 30, 1953 portion of the class under 

evaluation.

7.4.2 Blowout Events 

SEC-00136: The petitioner provided a statement (not an affidavit), in support of Item E.4, citing 

blowouts during uranium metal fabrication.

NIOSH has carefully reviewed an extensive amount of information pertaining to Electro Met with 

regard to the occurrence of blowouts. In addition, interviews were conducted with former Electro Met 

employees whom NIOSH specifically sought information regarding these events. As discussed in 

Section 5.2.3, NIOSH has discovered no documentation to support the occurrence of blowouts at 

Electro Met. In the case that it is assumed that blowouts were a common occurrence (based on the 

frequency of occurrence discussions included in the petition and news article as reviewed in Section 

5.2.3), the available Electro Met monitoring information and dose evaluation methods reviewed in this 

report include and account for the potential personnel exposures associated with such occurrences. 

Based on the evaluation in this report, the available data serve to support a bounding approach to 

complete dose reconstructions for the evaluated class that accounts for all potential exposure 

conditions and situations that occurred during the operations at the Electro Met site.
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7.5 Other Potential SEC Issues Relevant to the Petition Identified During the 

Evaluation 

During the feasibility evaluation for SEC-00136, a number of issues were identified that needed 

further analysis and resolution. The issues and their current status are: 

ISSUE: The approach taken by NIOSH in Battelle-TBD-6001 Appendix C to develop year-specific 

correction factors for inhalation doses does not appear to be claimant favorable. Doses in the early 

years may be understated. Battelle-TBD-6001 is based on data collected from 1948 through 1956. 

The airborne levels for all uranium refining facilities show a downward trend during this period. The 

TBD suggests a correction factor be applied to pre-1948 intakes to reflect the potentially higher 

airborne levels. [We] suggest that the correction is too low and is not favorable to claimants who 

were exposed prior to 1948 (SC&A, 2008). 

RESPONSE: NIOSH reviewed the available information and concluded that the data do not support 

internal dose reconstruction prior to 1948. This analysis is discussed in Sections 7.1.1.2 and 7.2.1.2 of 

this report. 

ISSUE: NIOSH [Battelle-TBD-6001] did not consider radon exposures in developing inhalation 

exposure rates. Since pitchblende ore contains significant quantities of radium-226 and its progeny, 

this omission significantly understates inhalation exposure rates for workers involved with operations 

at the front end (ore processing) of the refining process (SC&A, 2008). 

RESPONSE: As discussed in Section 5.2.1, the process of producing uranium tetrafluoride from 

uranium oxide removes the radon parent species. In addition, the residence time in the Electro Met 

facility was insufficient to allow ingrowth of these parents to a degree to produce a significant radon 

hazard.

ISSUE: It is not clear that Battelle-TBD-6001 Appendix C considers the correction factor suggested 

by the TBD for intakes received prior to 1948. This would result in a dose estimate not favorable to 

the claimant. 

RESPONSE: NIOSH reviewed the available information and concluded that the data do not support 

internal dose reconstruction prior to 1948. This analysis is discussed in Sections 7.1.1.2 and 7.2.1.2 of 

this report. 

ISSUE: The estimated intakes defined for three job classifications defined by Battelle-TBD-6001 

Appendix C are based on data collected during 3 days in 1948 and again in 1949. It is unclear if this 

dataset reflects the entire operational period as suggested. 

RESPONSE: NIOSH reviewed the available information and concluded that the data do not support 

internal dose reconstruction prior to 1948. This analysis is discussed in Sections 7.1.1.2 and 7.2.1.2 of 

this report. 
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ISSUE: Electro Met was operational from 1943 through 1953, with periods of inactivity. Uraniumcontaining dust samples results collected over a six-day period (three days in 1948 and three in 1949) 

are assumed to reflect conditions over the entire ten-year period. The validity of this assumption must 

be determined to ensure, in the least, that the approach provides a bounding estimate of uranium 

uptakes. 

RESPONSE: NIOSH reviewed the available information and concluded that the data do not support 

internal dose reconstruction prior to 1948. This analysis is discussed in Sections 7.1.1.2 and 7.2.1.2 of 

this report. After 1948, NIOSH believes that the data are suitable for dose reconstruction. 

ISSUE: There is no apparent basis for assigning exposures during standby periods to the “Other” 

category described in Battelle-TBD-6001 Appendix C. Battelle-TBD-6001 Appendix C evaluates 

internal and external exposures during standby periods at Electro Met by using the methodology 

attributed to the “Other” category described as “...for those that do not routinely enter uranium 

production areas.” This was based on the assumption that “...it is unlikely anyone handled uranium 

or uranium processing equipment. Also the uranium inventory was likely reduced...” However, no 

documented evidence has been located to substantiate this assumption. 

RESPONSE: As discussed in Section 7.2.3.2 of this report, there are no individual data to support a 

bounding dose for standby operations. NIOSH will assess occupational exposures to establish a 

bounding internal/external dose according to the DCAS TKBS-0007 methodology using the 

assumption that activities during standby periods have much less exposure potential than operational 

periods. 
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7.6 Summary of Feasibility Findings for Petition SEC-00136 

This report evaluates the feasibility for completing dose reconstructions for employees at Electro 

Metallurgical from August 13, 1943 through June 30, 1953. NIOSH found that the available bioassay 

and air sampling data are not sufficient to complete dose reconstructions for the August 13, 1942 

through December 31, 1947 portion of the period under evaluation. However, there are sufficient film 

badge, air sample, and urinalysis results to support bounding the dose for the January 1, 1948 through 

June 30, 1953 portion of the class under evaluation. 

Table 7-1 summarizes the results of the feasibility findings at Electro Metallurgical for each exposure 

source during the time period August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947 (early operations) and 

from January 1, 1948 through June 30, 1953 (later operations). 

Table 7-1: Summary of Feasibility Findings for SEC-00136

August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947 (early operations); 

January 1, 1948 through June 30, 1953 (later operations)

Source of Exposure

August 13, 1942 through December 

31, 1947 (early operations)

January 1, 1948 through June 30, 

1953 (later operations)

Reconstruction 

Feasible

Reconstruction 

Not Feasible

Reconstruction 

Feasible

Reconstruction 

Not Feasible

Internal1 X X

 - Uranium X X

External X X

 - Gamma X X

 - Beta X X

 - Neutron N/A N/A N/A N/A

 - Occupational Medical X-ray X X

1

 Internal includes an evaluation of urinalysis (in vitro) and airborne dust data 

As of January 12, 2012, a total of 104 claims have been submitted to NIOSH for individuals who 

worked at Electro Metallurgical during the period under evaluation in this report. Dose 

reconstructions have been completed for 96 individuals (~95%). 

Although NIOSH found that it is not possible to completely reconstruct radiation doses for the 

proposed class, NIOSH intends to use any internal and external monitoring data that may become 

available for an individual claim (and that can be interpreted using existing NIOSH dose 

reconstruction processes or procedures). Therefore, dose reconstructions for individuals employed at 

Electro Metallurgical during the period from August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947, but who 

do not qualify for inclusion in the SEC, may be performed using these data as appropriate. 
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8.0 Evaluation of Health Endangerment for Petition SEC-00136

The health endangerment determination for the class of employees covered by this evaluation report is 

governed by both EEOICPA and 42 C.F.R. § 83.13(c)(3). Under these requirements, if it is not 

feasible to estimate with sufficient accuracy radiation doses for members of the class, NIOSH must 

also determine that there is a reasonable likelihood that such radiation doses may have endangered the 

health of members of the class. Section 83.13 requires NIOSH to assume that any duration of 

unprotected exposure may have endangered the health of members of a class when it has been 

established that the class may have been exposed to radiation during a discrete incident likely to have 

involved levels of exposure similarly high to those occurring during nuclear criticality incidents. If 

the occurrence of such an exceptionally high-level exposure has not been established, then NIOSH is 

required to specify that health was endangered for those workers who were employed for a number of 

work days aggregating at least 250 work days within the parameters established for the class or in 

combination with work days within the parameters established for one or more other classes of 

employees in the SEC. 

The NIOSH evaluation did not identify any evidence supplied by the petitioners or from other 

resources that would establish that the class was exposed to radiation during a discrete incident likely 

to have involved exceptionally high-level exposures, such as nuclear criticality incidents or other 

events involving similarly high levels of exposures. However, the evidence reviewed in this 

evaluation indicates that some workers in the class may have accumulated chronic radiation exposures 

through intakes of uranium and from direct exposure to this material. Based on the sum of 

information available from available resources, NIOSH’s evaluation determined that it is not feasible 

to estimate radiation dose with sufficient accuracy for members of the NIOSH-evaluated class for the 

time period from August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1947. Therefore, the resulting NIOSHproposed SEC class must include a minimum required employment period as a basis for specifying 

that health was endangered for this time period. NIOSH further determined that it is feasible to 

estimate radiation dose with sufficient accuracy for members of the NIOSH-evaluated class for the 

time period from January 1, 1948 through June 30, 1953. Therefore, a health endangerment 

determination is not required for this time period. 

9.0 Class Conclusion for Petition SEC-00136 

Based on its full research of the class under evaluation, NIOSH has defined a single class of 

employees for which NIOSH cannot estimate radiation doses with sufficient accuracy. The NIOSHproposed class to be added to the SEC includes all employees of the Department of Energy, its 

predecessor agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors who worked at the Electro 

Metallurgical site in Niagara Falls, New York, for the period from August 13, 1942 through 

December 31, 1947, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days, occurring either 

solely under this employment, or in combination with work days within the parameters established for 

one or more other classes of employees in the Special Exposure Cohort. The period from January 1, 

1948 through June 30, 1953 is not included in the proposed SEC class because NIOSH has determined 

dose reconstruction to be feasible for the period. 
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NIOSH has carefully reviewed all material sent in by the petitioner, including the specific assertions 

stated in the petition, and has responded herein (see Section 7.4). NIOSH has also reviewed available 

technical resources and many other references, including the Site Research Database (SRDB), for 

information relevant to SEC-00136. In addition, NIOSH reviewed its NOCTS dose reconstruction 

database to identify EEOICPA-related dose reconstructions that might provide information relevant to 

the petition evaluation. 

These actions are based on existing, approved NIOSH processes used in dose reconstruction for 

claims under EEOICPA. NIOSH’s guiding principle in conducting these dose reconstructions is to 

ensure that the assumptions used are fair, consistent, and well-grounded in the best available science. 

Simultaneously, uncertainties in the science and data must be handled to the advantage, rather than to 

the detriment, of the petitioners. When adequate personal dose monitoring information is not 

available, or is very limited, NIOSH may use the highest reasonably possible radiation dose, based on 

reliable science, documented experience, and relevant data to determine the feasibility of 

reconstructing the dose of an SEC petition class. NIOSH contends that it has complied with these 

standards of performance in determining the feasibility or infeasibility of reconstructing dose for the 

class under evaluation. 
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10.0 References 

42 C.F.R. pt. 81, Guidelines for Determining the Probability of Causation Under the Energy 

Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000; Final Rule, Federal 

Register/Vol. 67, No. 85/Thursday, p. 22,296; May 2, 2002; SRDB Ref ID: 19391

42 C.F.R. pt. 82, Methods for Radiation Dose Reconstruction Under the Energy Employees 

Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000; Final Rule; May 2, 2002; SRDB Ref ID: 

19392

42 C.F.R. pt. 83, Procedures for Designating Classes of Employees as Members of the Special 

Exposure Cohort Under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 

2000; Final Rule; May 28, 2004; SRDB Ref ID: 22001 

42 U.S.C. §§ 7384-7385 [EEOICPA], Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation 

Program Act of 2000, as amended 

Affidavit, 2009, Affidavit from Survivor for SEC-00132; December 28, 2009; OSA Ref ID: 107789, 

p. 5 

Battelle-TBD-6000, Site Profiles for Atomic Weapons Employers that Worked Uranium Metals, Rev. 

1; June 17, 2011; SRDB Ref ID: 101251 

Battelle-TBD-6001, Site Profiles for Atomic Weapons Employers that Refined Uranium and Thorium, 

Rev. F0; Battelle; December 13, 2006; SRDB Ref ID: 30673 

Battelle-TBD-6001 Appendix C, Site Profiles for Atomic Weapons Employers that Refined Uranium 

and Thorium—Appendix C, Electro Metallurgical Company, Rev. 0; Battelle; December 21, 2007; 

SRDB Ref ID: 41362 

Belmore, 1947, Health and Safety Meeting—Clinical Recommendations; F. M. Belmore; October 28, 

1947; SRDB Ref ID: 8899 

Belmore, 1953, Dismantlement of Electro Met Company, Radiation Survey of December 10-12, 1952, 

correspondence to W. B. Harris; F. M. Belmore; February 3, 1953; SRDB Ref ID: 59265

Blatz, 1949, Proper Film Badge Placement, correspondence to Mr. Winterhaler; Hanson Blatz; June 

20, 1949; SRDB Ref ID: 8897, p. 28 

Construction Report, 1943, Construction of Electro Metallurgical Company Area Plant; U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers Completion Report, Tonawanda Area – Manhattan District; 1943; SRDB Ref ID: 

59225 

Consult Call Response, 2009, SEC-00132 Consult Call Response; January 7, 2009; OSA REF ID: 

107789, pp. 1-4
SEC-00136, Rev. 1 01-31-12 Electro Metallurgical 

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DCAS-PR-004, Internal Procedures for the Evaluation of Special Exposure Cohort Petitions, Rev. 1, 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); Cincinnati, Ohio; April 15, 2011; 

SRDB Ref ID: 94768 

DCAS-TKBS-0007, Technical Basis Document for the Electro Metallurgical Company, Rev. 00; 

February 15, 2011; SRDB Ref ID: 92953 

DOE, 1986, History of UMETCO Minerals Company-Formerly Electro Metallurgical Company; 

Department of Energy (DOE); April 9, 1986; SRDB Ref ID: 16282 

Dosimetry Results, Aug. 1944, Dosimetry Results for Electro Metallurgical Employees from August 

26, 1944 through August 29, 1944; SRDB Ref ID: 8887, pp. 9-10

Dosimetry Results, March 1948-Jan. 1949, Dosimetry Results for Electro Metallurgical Employees 

from March 15, 1948 through January 24, 1949; SRDB Ref ID: 11547 

Dosimetry Results, June 1948-June 1949, Dosimetry Results for Electro Metallurgical Employees 

from June 7, 1948 through June 13, 1949; SRDB Ref ID: 11543 

Dosimetry Results, Aug.-Dec. 1948, Dosimetry Results for Electro Metallurgical Employees from 

August 9, 1948 through December 20, 1948; SRDB Ref ID: 11545 

Dosimetry Results, Nov. 1948-Jan. 1949, Dosimetry Results for Electro Metallurgical Employees 

from November 1, 1948 through January 24, 1949; SRDB Ref ID: 12402, p. 6 

Dosimetry Results, Jan.-Sep. 1949, Dosimetry Results for Electro Metallurgical Employees from 

January 3, 1949 through September 26, 1949; SRDB Ref ID: 11548 

Dosimetry Results, March-May 1949, Dosimetry Results for Electro Metallurgical Employees from 

March 7, 1949 through May 30, 1949; SRDB Ref ID: 8875, p. 11 

Dust Sample Results, April 1944, Electro Met Dust Sample Results for April 5, 1944; SRDB Ref ID: 

8887, pp. 11-14

Dust Sample Results, July 1944, Electro Met Dust Sample Results for July 26, 1944; SRDB Ref ID: 

7727

Dust Sample Results, Dec. 1947-May 1948, Dust Hazard Reports with Dust Sample Results for 

December 24, 1947, March 30, 1948, and May 14, 1948; SRDB Ref ID: 8917 

Dust Sample Results, Nov. 1948-Jan. 1949, Dust Sample Results from November 3, 1948 through 

January 12, 1949, includes Job Analysis Sheets; SRDB Ref ID: 8912 

Dust Sample Results, Aug. 1949, Electro Met Dust Sample Report and Results for August 17-19, 

1949; SRDB Ref ID: 8930 
SEC-00136, Rev. 1 01-31-12 Electro Metallurgical 

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Dust Sample Results, Aug. 1953, Electro Met Dust Sample Results Collected on August 14, 1953; 

SRDB Ref ID: 8889 

Eisler, 2000, Poisoned Workers and Poisoned Places; Peter Eisler; September 6, 2000; OSA Ref ID: 

107873, pp. 24-27 

Electro Met, 1946a, Completion Report—Construction of Electro Metallurgical Company Area Plant, 

Contract No. W-7405 Eng-14, Tonawanda Area; Electro Metallurgical (Electro Met); February 15, 

1946; SRDB Ref ID: 59225 

Electro Met, 1946b, Results of Radiation Measurements Made at the Electro Metallurgical Plant on 

October 22, 1946; Electro Metallurgical (Electro Met); October 22, 1946; SRDB Ref ID: 8940 

Electro Met, 1948, Job Descriptions for Hourly Paid Classifications; Electro Metallurgical (Electro 

Met); November 3, 1948; SRDB Ref ID: 8897, pp. 39-41 

Form B-SEC00132, Form B for SEC-00132; OSA Ref ID: 107378 

Form B-SEC00136, Form B for SEC-00136; OSA Ref ID: 107806, pp. 8-20 

FUSRAP, date unknown, FUSRAP Elimination Report for the Former Electro Metallurgical 

Company, Niagara Falls, New York; U.S. Department of Energy, Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial 

Action Program (FUSRAP); date unknown - from document context, after July 1, 1985; SRDB Ref 

ID: 59218 

Hayden, 1947, Survey of Tonawanda Area, correspondence to B. S. Wolf; R. E. Hayden; November 3, 

1947; SRDB Ref ID: 35762, pp. 4-10

Hayden, 1948, Health Hazards at Electro Metallurgical Company, August 30, 1948 site visit; R. E. 

Hayden; 1948; SRDB Ref ID: 8897, pp. 42-47 

Harris, 1953, Dismantlement of Electro Metallurgical Corporation, Decontamination Survey of 

August 11 and 14, 1953, correspondence with survey results; W. B. Harris; September 28, 1953; 

SRDB Ref ID: 9036, pp. 31-36 and pp. 48-52 

Heatherton, 1947-1949, Progress Reports from December 21, 1947 through July 25, 1949; R. C. 

Heatherton; December 21, 1947-July 25, 1949; SRDB Ref ID: 14524 

Heatherton, 1948, Monthly Report for June 1948—Tonawanda Area; R. C. Heatherton; July 20, 1948; 

SRDB Ref ID: 35762, pp. 13-15

Makhijani, 2006, Preliminary Partial Dose Estimates from the Processing of Nuclear Materials at 

Three Plants During the 1940s and 1950s; Arjun Makhijani, Bernd Franke, and Hisham Zerriffi; USA 

Today article; August 16, 2006; OSA Ref ID: 107873, pp. 8-23 & OSA Ref ID: 107806, pp. 21-36 

Mears, 1945, Medical Program at Electro Metallurgical Plant, correspondence to the Area Engineer 

at Tonawanda, New York; B. J. Mears; May 4, 1945; SRDB Ref ID: 21849 
SEC-00136, Rev. 1 01-31-12 Electro Metallurgical 

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MED Work Report, 1944, Work Report for October 1944, report on tours of Manhattan District 

contractors’ plants; U.S. Engineer Office, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; November 2, 1944; SRDB 17273, 

pdf p. 19 

Non-Standard Form B, Non-Standard Form B for SEC-00136; December 2, 2008; OSA Ref ID: 

107873, pp. 1-7 & OSA REF ID: 107806, pp. 1-7 

NYOO, 1951, Production of Uranium Feed Materials; Manager of New York Operations Office 

(NYOO) and Director of Production; May 22, 1951; SRDB Ref ID: 4125 

OCAS-PR-004, Internal Procedures for the Evaluation of Special Exposure Cohort Petitions, Rev. 0, 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); Cincinnati, Ohio; September 23, 

2004; SRDB Ref ID: 32022 

ORAUT-OTIB-0006, Dose Reconstruction from Occupationally Related Diagnostic X-Ray 

Procedures, Rev. 03 PC-1; Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU); Oak Ridge, Tennessee; 

December 21, 2005; SRDB Ref ID: 20220 

ORAUT-OTIB-0024, Estimation of Neutron Dose Rates from Alpha-Neutron Reactions in Uranium 

and Thorium Compounds, Rev. 00; Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU); Oak Ridge, 

Tennessee; April 7, 2005; SRDB Ref ID: 19445 

ORAUT-OTIB-0079, OTIB: Guidance on Assigning Occupational X-ray Dose Under EEOICPA for 

X-rays Administered Off Site, Rev. 00; January 3, 2011; SRDB Ref ID: 89563

ORAUT-TKBS-0005, Basis for Development of an Exposure Matrix for the Mallinckrodt Chemical 

Company St. Louis Downtown Site and the St. Louis Airport Site, St. Louis, Missouri, Rev. 02 PC-1; 

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU); Oak Ridge, Tennessee; May 25, 2009; SRDB Ref ID: 

67979 

ORAUT-TKBS-0006-5, Hanford Site—Occupational Internal Dose, Rev. 02; Oak Ridge Associated 

Universities (ORAU); Oak Ridge, Tennessee; June 22, 2007; SRDB Ref ID: 32522 

ORAUT-TKBS-0025, An Exposure Matrix for Linde Ceramics Plant (Including Tonawanda 

Laboratory), Rev. 01; Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU); Oak Ridge, Tennessee; November 

4, 2008; SRDB Ref ID: 53205 

Ore Beneficiation, 1945a, Status of the Low Grade African Ore Beneficiation Program, U.S. War 

Department; October 24, 1945; SRDB Ref ID: 91908 

Ore Beneficiation, 1945b, Status of the Low Grade African Ore Beneficiation Program; U.S. War 

Department; December 6, 1945; SRDB Ref ID: 91957 

Personal Communication, 2009a, Personal Communication with a Former Chemist at Electro 

Metallurgical Corporation; Telephone Interview by ORAU Team; May 29, 2009; SRDB Ref ID: 

69862
SEC-00136, Rev. 1 01-31-12 Electro Metallurgical 

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Personal Communication, 2009b, Personal Communication with a Former Production Area Worker 

at Electro Metallurgical Corporation; Telephone Interview by ORAU Team; May 29, 2009; SRDB 

Ref ID: 69863

Radiological Health Handbook, 1970, Radiological Health Handbook; U.S. Department of Health, 

Education, and Welfare, compiled and edited by the Bureau of Radiological Health and the Training 

Institute, Environmental Control Administration; January 1970; SRDB Ref ID: publicly available 

Roberts, 1998, The History of Neuroscience in Autobiography, Volume 2, Chapter on Eugene 

Roberts, Edited by L. R. Squire; Academic Press, 1998; SRDB Ref ID: 106408 

SC&A, 2008, Draft Review of Battelle-TBD-6001, Site Profiles for Atomic Weapons Employers that 

Worked Uranium and Thorium Metals, Revision FO Dated December 13, 2006; S. Cohen & 

Associates (SC&A); February 2008; SRDB Ref ID: 69273 

Smear Results, Dec. 1952-Aug. 1953, Electro Met Smear Results from December 11, 1952 and 

August 14, 1953; SRDB Ref ID: 8892 

Statement, 2006, Statement of the Honorable John N. Hostettler Chairman of the Subcommittee on 

2Immigration, Border Security, and Claims for the December 5, 2006 Oversight Hearing on 

EEOICIPA; OSA Ref ID: 107873, pp. 28-38

Urinalysis Results, July 1944-Sept. 1944, Urinalysis Results for Electro Metallurgical Employees 

from July 10, 1944 through September 8, 1944; SRDB Ref ID: 8887, pp. 3-7

Urinalysis Results, Oct. 1949-Dec. 1949, Urinalysis Results for Electro Metallurgical Employees from 

October 11, 1949 through December 2, 1949; SRDB Ref ID: 35738, pp. 78-83

Williamson, 2000, New Study Finds Multiple Myeloma Linked to Radiation Exposures of Nuclear 

Workers; David Williamson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; April 8, 2000; OSA Ref ID: 

107789, pp. 6-9

Wilson, 1958, The Hanford Uranium Bioassay Program, presented during Session II of the 

Symposium on Occupational Health Experience and Practices in the Uranium Industry on October 15, 

1958; R. H. Wilson; October 15, 1958; SRDB Ref ID: 7886, pp. 89-96 

Wolf, 1949, Air Contamination from the Manipulation of Work Clothes; B. S. Wolf; July 13, 1949; 

SRDB Ref ID: 35738, p. 2 

 
SEC-00136, Rev. 1 01-31-12 Electro Metallurgical 

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SEC-00136, Rev. 1 01-31-12 Electro Metallurgical 

Page 47 of 51 

Attachment 1: Data Capture Synopsis 

Table A1-1: Data Capture Synopsis for Electro Metallurgical Corporation

Data Capture Information General Description of Documents Captured Date Completed Uploaded to 

SRDB

Primary Site/Company Name: Electro Metallurgical; DOE 

1942-1953 

Other Company Names:

ElectroMet Corp. 1942-1953

Umetco Minerals Corp. 1942-1953

Union Carbide Corp. parent company, 1942-1999

Dow Chemical Company, successor company, acquired 

Union Carbide in 1999

Site Population Estimate: 560

Estimated Building Area: 10,950 ft2

Contacted [Name redacted], Dow Attorney, on 05/05/2009 to 

request access to any existing records. An update was requested on 

05/28/2009. As of 05/21/2009, no records had been located.

NA 0

State Contacted: [Name redacted], New York State 

Department of Environmental Conservation

No relevant documents identified. 05/18/2009 0

Claimant Provided Brief notes on Electro Metallurgical's uranium metal production. 04/18/2005 2

Department of Labor/Paragon Progress reports, analyses of Electro Metallurgical calcium, survey 

for buried waste at LOOW, and status of Buffalo area FUSRAP 

sites.

12/30/2008 20

DOE EML/HASL Record of a 1953 site visit to determine the cost of 

decontamination.

03/08/2005 1

DOE Germantown Site FUSRAP evaluation, airborne radioactivity studies, a New 

York Operations Office (NYOO) uranium operations flowchart, 

and identification of Electro Metallurgical as producing uranium 

metal by green salt reduction.

07/13/2010 11

DOE Germantown/SC&A Dust hazards at Electro Metallurgical. 07/10/2010 1

DOE Hanford Billet data and an Iowa State College contract. 07/26/2010 2
SEC-00136, Rev. 1 01-31-12 Electro Metallurgical 

48 of 51

Table A1-1: Data Capture Synopsis for Electro Metallurgical Corporation

Data Capture Information General Description of Documents Captured Date Completed Uploaded to 

SRDB

DOE Legacy Management - Grand Junction Office Tonawanda area progress reports, site description, FUSRAP 

surveys and elimination report, material transfers, purchase orders, 

contracts and amendments, soil sampling, comments on FUSRAP 

surveys, Contract No. W-7405 Eng-14, radiological survey, 

shipment information, extraction of X from low grade ores, scrap 

material from Chapman Valve, Study of "Unaccounted for 

Material" – Uranium, elimination of Union Mines Development 

Corp., release of railroad company from agreement to allow 

dumping of sludge in "borrow" pit, receipt for quarter sections of 

W-slug, and Contract No. AT-30-1-Gen-137.

08/30/2011 154

DOE Legacy Management - Morgantown Monthly and quarterly progress reports, characterization and hazard 

assessment, inventory listing of K-65 tanks, ORO managers 

handbook on feed materials, radioactive waste management report, 

report on the processing of uranium feed materials and uranium 

metal, summary of production orders, and a radiological survey.

06/30/2010 32

DOE Legacy Management - MoundView A report on the production of feed materials and a progress report. 04/01/2008 4

DOE Legacy Management - MoundView (Fernald 

Holdings, includes Fernald Legal Database)

Report of the Health and Safety Division and a hazardous waste 

appraisal.

03/08/2007 3

DOE Legacy Management - MoundView (Fernald 

Holdings, includes Fernald Legal Database) / SC&A

Annual Health and Safety Division report. 05/13/2010 1

DOE ORNL Machining of Uranium for Brookhaven Reactor. 04/12/2007 1

DOE ORO - RHTG Status of low grade African ore and rolling operations and 

schedule.

04/08/2011 6

Federal Records Center (FRC) - Kansas City Weekly and monthly reports. 08/11/2008 2

Hagley Museum & Library The Hanford Story (materials procurement and processing). 09/29/2010 1

Internet Report on residual radioactive and beryllium contamination. 01/25/2007 1

Internet - Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource 

(CEDR)

No relevant documents identified. 02/03/2009 0

Internet - DOE Hanford Declassified Document Retrieval 

System (DDRS)

Hanford trip and progress reports regarding uranium billet 

production at Electro Metallurgical.

02/03/2009 6

Internet - DOE National Nuclear Security Administration 

(NNSA)

Weldon Spring online tour. 05/11/2009 1

Internet - DOE OpenNet NYOO monthly status reports and identification of Electro 

Metallurgical as a producer of uranium metal.

02/03/2009 6
SEC-00136, Rev. 1 01-31-12 Electro Metallurgical 

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Table A1-1: Data Capture Synopsis for Electro Metallurgical Corporation

Data Capture Information General Description of Documents Captured Date Completed Uploaded to 

SRDB

Internet - DOE OSTI Energy Citations A Hanford monthly report which mentions Electro Metallurgical as 

a source of uranium billets.

02/03/2009 1

Internet - DOE OSTI Information Bridge No relevant documents identified. 02/03/2009 0

Internet - Google FUSRAP sites summary, news reports of high exposures, news 

reports, a records inventory for Umetco Colorado operations, 

forgotten exposures, the Army and Atomic Bomb, and preliminary 

partial dose estimates from nuclear materials during 1940's and 

1950's.

10/01/2010 21

Internet - HP Journal Uncertainty and Variability in Historical Time-Weighted Average 

Exposure Data.

02/01/2008 1

Internet - National Academies Press (NAP) No relevant documents identified. 02/03/2009 0

Internet - NRC Agencywide Document Access and 

Management (ADAMS)

NRC staff evaluation of sites. 02/03/2009 1

Internet - ORNL Library Operations monthly reports. 09/23/2011 3

Internet - Washington State University (U.S. Transuranium 

and Uranium Registries)

No relevant documents identified. 02/03/2009 0

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) -

Atlanta

Air dust samples, monthly reports, Linde health physics reports 

with some Electro Metallurgical results, survey results, urinalysis 

results, work report, hazards analysis, uranium transfers, weekly 

reports, R&D progress reports, and tuballoy building specifications.

05/12/2010 53

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) -

College Park

Ames activities, dust sample results, facilities for rolling uranium, 

material balance summary reports, monthly reports, material 

accounting, production of thorium, uranium inventory data, and 

weekly reports.

08/19/2010 20

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) -

Kansas City

FUSRAP documents including surveys and MED weekly reports. 08/11/2008 8

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

(NIOSH)

History of USAEC, study of unaccounted for uranium, and a 

Niagara Frontier database with employee data and key to fields.

06/04/2010 3

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Process knowledge interviews, film badge results, and exposure 

monitoring data.

04/01/2004 5

Oak Ridge Operations Vault Health and mortality studies, dosimetry results, progress reports, 

trip report, and material accounting. Awaiting response to Data 

Capture Request ORO-FY12-003, requesting eight documents.

OPEN 11

ORAU Vault Contamination data, soil and water uranium data, and uranium dust 

exposure.

10/28/2005 3
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Table A1-1: Data Capture Synopsis for Electro Metallurgical Corporation

Data Capture Information General Description of Documents Captured Date Completed Uploaded to 

SRDB

ORAU Team Basis for development of an exposure matrix for the Mallinckrodt 

Chemical Company, early occupational exposure experience with 

uranium processing, estimating the maximum plausible dose, 

exposure monitoring data, interview of former employees, ORAU 

Project spreadsheet, site profile for Electro Metallurgical, Special 

Exposure Cohort Petition Evaluation Report (SEC-00136), and 

ORAU Team Technical Basis Documents.

02/24/2011 16

S. Cohen & Associates (SC&A) Description of Uranium Producing Processes. 06/24/2010 1

SC&A/Linde Ceramics Record of negotiations and hazardous work area markings. 06/24/2010 2

Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL Electro Metallurgical is mentioned as an early uranium processing 

facility.

10/08/2008 2

Unknown Ring dosimeter data, health hazards report, NYOO status reports, 

safety management evaluation, Tonawanda health physics report, 

film badge results, dismantlement surveys, air dust evaluation, 

FUSRAP elimination report, MED materials flow, urinalysis 

information, contract numbers, radiological surveys, and an 

explosion incident at Mallinckrodt.

10/18/2004 50

US Army Corps of Engineers USA Today source documents related to Harshaw. 06/24/2010 1

TOTAL 457

Table A1-2: Databases Searched for Electro Metallurgical Corporation

Database/Source Keywords / Phrases Hits Selected

NOTE: Database search terms employed for each of the databases listed below are available in the

Excel file called “Electro Metallurgical Rev 01, (83 13) 01-13-12”

DOE CEDR

http://cedr.lbl.gov/

COMPLETED 02/03/2009

See Note above 0 0

DOE Hanford DDRS

http://www2.hanford.gov/declass/

COMPLETED 02/03/2009

See Note above 10 6
SEC-00136, Rev. 1 01-31-12 Electro Metallurgical 

51 of 51

Table A1-2: Databases Searched for Electro Metallurgical Corporation

Database/Source Keywords / Phrases Hits Selected

DOE NNSA - Nevada Site Office

www.nv.doe.gov/main/search.htm

COMPLETED 05/11/2009

See Note above 5 1

DOE OpenNet

http://www.osti.gov/opennet/advancedsearch.jsp

COMPLETED 02/03/2009

See Note above 20 6

DOE OSTI Energy Citations

http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/

COMPLETED 02/03/2009

See Note above 26 1

DOE OSTI Information Bridge

http://www.osti.gov/bridge/advancedsearch.jsp

COMPLETED 02/03/2009

See Note above 26 0

National Academies Press

http://www.nap.edu/

COMPLETED 02/03/2009

See Note above 0 0

NRC ADAMS Reading Room

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html

COMPLETED 02/03/2009

See Note above 78 1

U.S. Transuranium & Uranium Registries 

http://www.ustur.wsu.edu/

COMPLETED 02/03/2009

See Note above 0 0

Google

http://www.google.com

COMPLETED 10/01/2010

See Note above 1,282 21

Table A1-3: OSTI Documents Ordered for Electro Metallurgical Corporation

Document Number Document Title Requested

Date

Received

Date

No documents ordered.